It could get potentially ugly on June 11th and may result in a clash just like in 1921 with union(izing) miners and citizens going against non-union coal company thugs and the police. In 1921 the US Gov dropped bombs on the miners left over from World War 1. The first and only time citizens have been bombed by the US Government.
My wife and daughter and I marched 12 miles on the first day and I will tell you that this is one of the most inspiring actions I have ever been a part of. The young organizers have got it together. Anyone that thinks young people are lost or apathetic is wrong. These young organizers from Appalachia Rising and other young activist organizations are doing it right with the marchers safety and a strong message at the forefront.
Local police and coal companies are trying to stop it and making it very expensive for the organizers. It got kinda scary when we were all threatened with arrest (300 plus marchers), and we left late on the first day because our daughter got exhausted and stresssed from some of the tension.
This action in support of labor rights, historical preservation, and the environment is a big time protest action and everyone should support it and follow it to its conclusion on June 11th when the marchers attempt to occupy the historic labor battlefield site on Blair Mountain. Blair Mountain is the site of the largest armed labor conflict in US history. Awesome video link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoTd47Ip69Q?
Blair Mountain is one of the last buffers of land between many adjacent huge surface mines in Logan County WV. If this mountain is ever allowed to be destroyed and mined the negative long term and cumulative impacts to this region will never be recovered from and it has the potential to become the largest superfund site in the world if it is not protected.
Join the virtual March!
