What do you call hearings meant to address an important issue, where one side is allowed to speak while the other is intimidated by thugs and the police? Where even the press is not present to hold participants to account for their actions...or, inactions? I don't know either. But, it is certainly happening.
Knowing that this is the scenario that will take place at other hearings, what should be the strategy of those left out of the hearing? We know that the other side is going to use intimidation. The police are going to use the excuse that they are overwhelmed and cannot protect those in the minority.The moderators are impotent. And, the coal exec's are as involved in the thuggery as the goons outside the hearings.
Thugs are cowards. They, like cockroaches, don't want light shined upon them. The police certainly don't want any bad publicity either. Lest they be held responsible for not doing their jobs. The coal exec's? They really don't care. They have a lot of money to make sue their message gets out.
The first thing that comes to mind is cell phones. Twitter was used by those involved in Iraq during the demonstrations against the government. Video clips of any interaction with the thugs or the police should be taken and uploaded to YouTube.
If this is the type behavior we are to expect, then planning by those familiar with the legal system would be prudent. It is to be expected that the coal types have attorneys if not seated at the table, then certainly very nearby. It might behoove those involved to have an attorney present at any hearing. Perhaps the ACLU could lend a hand and have someone at each hearing?
Further ahead, I have a growing concern for those in less densely populated areas. If the longwall and mountain top destruction mining companies can pull off a one sided show in places like West Virginia, where there are more people. What chance do the folks in Wyoming and Montana have of standing against these criminals?
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