A judge found an Antioch man guilty on Monday for “rolling coal” by emitting a large amount of diesel exhaust from his truck toward a group of protesters in McHenry.
Sue Rose of Indivisible McHenry County said the incident occurred at the Families First protest rally on Route 31 in McHenry on July 26.
The protest was held across the United States to declare “our families come first—not billionaires, not authoritarians, and not corrupt politicians.”
“From rural towns to major cities, Families First actions will bring people together to collectively demand an end to policies that harm children, seniors, and our families. We reject the Administration’s actions that have gutted essential programs like Medicaid, FEMA, food stamps, school lunches, and more, all so a handful of billionaires can get tax giveaways,” an event flyer said.
More than 350 people attended the protest in McHenry that day, Rose said.
She said a man driving a black pickup truck drove “dangerously close” to the protest line on the east side of Route 31 south of McCullom Lake Road.
The driver “rolled coal” on the protesters, purposefully spewing thick, noxious diesel exhaust all over people who were standing there, Rose said.
“The exhaust was so dense it was difficult to breathe and you could feel it hit your skin. Those of us who were right there in the middle of it had to turn away, close our eyes, and cover our faces. It was pretty disturbing,” she said.
Two protest marshals were able to take photos of the truck as it was driving away.
They contacted the McHenry Police Department and turned over the photos. Officers later located the driver and charged him.
Court records show Nicholas D. Thompson, 18, of Antioch, was charged with one count of disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and the case was set for a bench trial for Monday.
A criminal complaint said Thompson “rolled coal” by emitting a large cloud of black smoke in front of a protest in the 1800 block of Richmond Road around 1:50 p.m. on July 26, disturbing and frightening protestors.
Rose said the prosecutor asked participants of the protest to show up in court as some have been asked to testify at the trial.
“Showing up does not mean that you will have to testify. We just want a good number of people in the courtroom to let everyone know that we will not put up with these kinds of assaults to our civil liberties,” she said last month.
The trial was held on Monday before McHenry County Judge Jeffrey Hirsch, who found Thompson guilty of the petty offense.
Hirsch ordered Thompson to pay $300 in court fines and fees. He will not face jail.