Logan County Residents Rally for Blair Mountain
International Workers' Day Event Highlights Threat to Historic Site
CHARLESTON, WV - On Tuesday, May 1 at 12pm noon, Logan County residents, labor historians and concerned citizens will hold a press conference and rally to support workers' rights and the historic designation of Blair Mountain.
As people around the world celebrate International Workers' Day, local residents will gather at the lower Rotunda of the State Capitol to honor those who fought at Blair Mountain, one of the most important labor historic sites in West Virginia, if not the nation. More than 80 years ago on Blair Mountain, 10,000 coal miners rose up against armed federal troops in defense of their rights to unionize.
Today, another battle is being fought there - the battle to save the historic site. On April 21, the West Virginia Labor History Association (WVLHA) voted unanimously to support preservation of Blair Mountain. With upcoming decisions pending on the fate of Blair Mountain and the rights of the workers, this event will honor miners for their service and remember the historic site.
WHO: Local residents, The WVLHA, community groups and the Sierra Club
WHAT: International Workers' Day celebration of labor and Blair Mountain, including speeches and stories
WHEN: Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 12pm noon
WHERE: Lower Rotunda, WV State Capitol Building, Charleston WV
Great Visuals:
Historic artifacts from Blair Mountain.
Maps showing the battle lines.
Pictures of Bill Blizzard, leader of the miners.
Pictures of Blair Mountain today.
Music from the "When Miners March" CD
