Russell Coats is a decent kid. He is a responsible student, loving son and loyal friend. After being attacked by protesters while leaving a conservative conference hosted by his university, Russell wakes up in the hospital to see the whole thing was captured on video. He's get's run through the 24 hour news cycle, and comes out the other end on the wrong side of history. His body is broken, his name and reputation are dragged through the mud. A year later he is still partially disabled, resentful towards the world and addicted to opiates. When he goes looking for his missing cousin going through a similar struggle, that's when the story really begins. Russell's redemption is the first story of the Hillsburg series, all loosely based on several true stories.