Roberts Leads March to Peabody Headquarters and Gets Arrested

10:45 a.m. Marching behind the American flag, UMWA President Cecil Roberts led a march of hundreds to Peabody’s headquarters, the protesters shouting variously, "Peabody promised, Peabody lied;" "Patriot promised, Patriot lied."

Once at the Peabody headquarters, Roberts and 9 of his brothers sat in the street beneath the company’s towering high rise.

Within a few minutes, as prayers were being read and honored peacefully by the protesters, the police, who had stood by throughout the march, descended upon the men seated in the street and demanded they remove themselves.

As the protesters sang “Amazing Grace,” the St. Louis police, themselves workers, as Roberts had noted earlier, moved forward under orders from their commanding officer and lifted the men from the ground and led them away, as “Which Side on You On?” played over the loud speakers.

The protesters shouting words of encouragement and waving the American flag cheered their brothers as they departed under arrest.

Secretary Treasurer Dan Kane urged the crowd to loudly proclaim their support and perseverance for their brothers who had been hauled off to jail.