The Cheerleader Trials (historical event)

For the play, see The Cheerleader Trials (play) The Cheerleader Trials refers to a series of violent persecutions of "Cheerleaders" and their suspected allies, propagated by the Poms in early Middletonian history. These events were the inspiration for Middleton's most famous dramatic play, The Cheerleader Trials.

History
Colonial "Myddletowne" was a highly religious society built on the worship of "pep", a life force said to inhabit the souls of certain youths. The early Middleton Cheerleaders were seen as gatekeepers of "pep" and were held to the highest possible social standard.

Aversions to the hierarchical divide in "Myddletown" society gave birth to the Poms, who saw "pep" as a universal force that should be cultivated equally in all people. Tensions were high between the Poms and Cheerleaders, although the Cheerleaders were able to maintain supremacy for many years.

Power began to shift in the Poms' favor when a series of kidnappings occurred that shook Myddletowne society. A strange, unknown student came forward and confessed to the crimes, claiming they had been sanctioned by the Cheerleaders as a ritual sacrifice to a mysterious demon inhabiting the woods. Paranoia spread and the Poms were quickly given judicial authority in order to quell further kidnappings.

Under the Poms, several Cheerleaders were given sham trials and became victims of violent punishment, the most common of which was the breaking of their legs.

The Cheerleader Trials eventually came to an end thanks to the governmental intervention of Prudence Huxler. Huxler declared the Cheerleader Trials to be a gross abuse of societal paranoia, and eventually banned the further persecution of Cheerleaders.

Legacy
The Cheerleader Trials became the chief inspiration for the "Cheerleader Trials" play, Middleton's most famous drama. Despite widespread acclaim, the play has not been performed in several decades in Middleton, due to superstitions over the "Cheerleader curse" said to doom any attempted production.