Duluth News Tribune Story Paints Inaccurate Picture of American Experiment’s Duluth Mining Rally

John Lundy of the Duluth News Tribune wrote a misleading article about American Experiment’s mining rally in Duluth on Monday, October 22nd at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

In the article, Lundy makes it appear as if John Hinderaker of American Experiment was rude to Sheila Coughlin as she repeatedly interrupted him even as he assured her that if she waited politely her questions would be addressed in a designated question and answer session after the presentations had been delivered.

In reality, Coughlin was the one with bad manners, and you can you can see the exchange for yourself by clicking here.

This isn’t the way Lundy wrote about the exchange.

“But Sheila Coughlin of Kettle River quickly rose to her feet to question the report. She became involved in a testy exchange with John Hinderaker, president of the organization. Coughlin, who at one point walked to the front of the room and took over the podium, cited a study by Harvard economist James Stock. His paper argued that economic benefits of expanded mining would be temporary and would do more harm than good in the long term.

Hinderaker, who threatened to have security remove Coughlin from the room if she didn’t confine her question to a single sentence, called Stock’s report “unbelievably bad.” Hinderaker said he had contacted Stock suggesting they debate the issue and offered at least 60 possible dates. Stock responded that he wouldn’t be available to come to Minnesota any time in 2018, Hinderaker said.”

Coughlin’s actions were in stark contrast to the rally American Experiment held in Hibbing the following night. Even the people who opposed or had reservations about copper nickel mining in the state waited for their turn to speak and they asked intelligent questions when called upon.

The Duluth News Tribune should not reward bad-mannered protests by painting them in a flattering light.