Do we know her attackers were Christians? I couldn’t find anything in the article that suggested they were…saw their mugshots and didn’t see anything there to suggest ‘Christian’ either.

Williams said the three teens took her against her will to Flat Lick Falls, physically abused her and tried to push her off a cliff.

Johnson said her daughter had the presence of mind to videotape the attack on her cell phone.

“There’s proof on the video that this is a hate crime,” Johnson said.

Johnson declined to disclose details of the video or of the attack, saying police had told her not to discuss the case.

Williams brandished a stick at the girls and was able to get away.

The girls found her and forced her back into the car but then let her go, warning her not to say anything, said Corbin attorney Tim Crawford, who represents the school system.

Williams also retrieved her phone and has given police the video.

Johnson said she has no clue why the other girls would try to hurt her daughter.

As for the timing, however, she noted that the alleged attack happened Friday, the day of a national observance for people who have faced bullying or harassment because of their sexual orientation.

The attack stemmed from that, Johnson said.

Crawford said he understood some students were wearing tags or stickers in support of the observance, while others were wearing stickers in opposition that said something like “Gay is not the way.”

Superintendent Ralph Hoskins directed that students in both groups not to display the stickers because he didn’t want the situation to escalate, Crawford said.

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Fee said Johnson called him Saturday and asked whether she could file a criminal complaint for her daughter.

Johnson said her daughter didn’t want to do anything about the attack because she feared retaliation, Fee said.