Sustainable Health and Well-Being
  • About SHWB
  • Bio
  • Resources
  • Contact

March on Blair Mountain - June 11, 2011

6/13/2011

2 Comments

 
From March on Blair Mountain:

We march to preserve Blair Mountain, abolish mountaintop removal, strengthen labor rights, and an investment in sustainable job creation for all Appalachian communities.The March on Blair Mountain is a peaceful, unifying rally involving environmental justice organizations, workers, scholars, artists, and other citizens and groups. The march commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921, when 10,000 coal miners rose against the rule of the coal operators and fought for the basic right to live and work in decent conditions. Currently, Blair Mountain is threatened with obliteration by mountaintop removal (MTR) mining, and it is here that a new generation of Appalachians takes a stand.

In the spirit of the original march–which consisted of mountain peoples, African-Americans, and immigrants from all over Europe–we reach out to a diversity of groups to march in solidarity for the workers, communities and mountains of Appalachia. If you stand with us, you are one of us — a true mountaineer.
Lessons from the Mountain ~
  • In late summer 1921, over 10,000 miners marched the 50 miles from Marmet to Blair Mountain to protest work conditions and to call for unionizing
  • The miners were met with strikebreakers, the police, and, eventually, the US Army
  • Over a million rounds were fired - 50-100 men were killed and hundreds more wounded
  • Almost 1000 miners were arrested
  • The Battle of Blair Mountain was one of the largest civil uprisings in our nation's history, matched only by the Civil War - the immediate effect was diminished union strength, but in 1935 under FDR the unions became strong and continued through the 1970's
  • Nevertheless, the 1921 march drew attention to the horrid conditions facing miners every day
  • Beginning June 6, 2011, several hundred citizens from many states and even different countries began the fifty mile march from Marmet to Blair Mountain, replicating the 1921 event - the stimulus was the threat of mountain top removal by coal companies - I will write more about the effects of MTR on the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, the mountain and its environs, and the mountain culture
  • The marchers walked several miles a day - the main glitch came when camp sites that had previously agreed to host the marchers at the end of a day's march reneged - some acknowledged that they had been asked/told not to support the marchers
  • On June 11, 2011, a truly diverse group of people came - over 1000 came together for the morning rally at the base of the mountain and almost 800 climbed the mountain to the battlefield of the miner's 1921 struggle - union members, students, retired miners, Quakers, ordinary citizens who have become activists - all races, educational levels, and income levels were represented - all ages, from in utero to 90 years +
  • Marchers included at least three Chatham University faculty - Lou Martin from History who walked the entire 50 miles, Greg Galford from Interior Architecture, and me - Lou and Greg both have West Virginia roots and I have eastern KY roots
  • Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an environmental attorney, spoke - he noted that, if a corporation were threatening to chop off the top of a mountain and to dump the dirt and rocks into streams in the Catskills or Adirondacks, this would be called criminal activity and the corporate heads would be held accountable for the destruction
  • Kathy Mattea, singer and activist, spoke and sang - and urged the marchers to hold all people in their hearts, even those who were supportive of surface mining and mountain top removal
  • Many many amazing citizens from West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia spoke from the heart
  • In early afternoon, the long march up the mountain started - first, three abreast, then single file, uphill for over two miles in temperatures in the high 80s
  • Marchers sang, shared water, chanted, and helped one another
  • Many state police units were present, ensuring the safety of the event
  • As hoped and planned for, it was a peaceful, inspirational, and respectful activity - there were very few counter protesters on the day of the march - there were no confrontations or ugly scenes 
  • Check out the Inspiration page in the next few days for some cool songs, pictures, and speeches and the Blog for more stories
2 Comments
Joellen Popma
6/13/2011 02:29:13 pm

I appreciated reading the background of Blair Mountain. The picture of the family in the truck stating that "Coal feeds their family" is a stark contrast to the knowledge that mining for coal and MTR for coal not only destroys the land but also poisons and kills their families. Maybe not right away but many families are already suffering the consequences.

Reply
Julie Brooks
6/14/2011 06:42:15 am

Thank you, Mary Beth, for bearing witness to what is happening again on Blair Mountain. Again, I am reminded of the dilemmas we humans face, and the importance of dialogue and understanding. I am also reminded of the ethic of seven generations and how we continue to be woefully negligent of the impact of considering the impact of our actions today on the next severn generations. Mountain top removal, like air pollution, water pollution and unhealthy/unsustainable consumption (of food and other products), concerns and scares me. It leaves me asking questions about what I can do, and how I might change my routines and habits so that such actions are curtailed. Thank you for bringing this closer to my attention!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mary Beth Mannarino is a licensed psychologist who provides coaching in the areas of leadership, career, life, and parenting. She is also an environmental and climate educator and activist. Dr. Mannarino is professor emeritus at Chatham University where she continues to teach courses to students in health professions related to environment and well-being.

    Picture

    Follow MBMannarino on Twitter
    My Bloggy Rules...
    I write about my own experiences, opinions, dreams, and ideas. I invite you to share your ideas, and to be part of a dialogue. I will make mistakes! But it is great to take the risk to put this out there and, more importantly, to hear from you.

    Archives

    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    August 2013
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    Categories

    All
    Air
    Art
    Biking
    Children
    Climate Change
    Coal
    Community
    Culture
    Economics
    Energy
    Environment
    Faith
    Families
    Family
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Immigration
    Jobs
    Leadership
    Love
    Mountains
    Mountain Top Removal
    Nature
    Occupy Movement
    Peace
    Politics
    Pollution
    Religion And Spirituality
    Social Action
    Social Justice
    Sustainability
    Transportation
    Water
    Well Being
    Well-being
    Work

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.