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TexasTowelie

(116,744 posts)
Fri Sep 3, 2021, 10:49 PM Sep 2021

Deadly 1921 coal miner revolt in West Virginia remembered

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fed up with the deadly work and poor wages and living conditions, thousands of coal miners marched to unionize in West Virginia a century ago, resulting in a deadly clash and the largest U.S. armed uprising since the Civil War.

On Friday, some of their descendants joined others in retracing the steps that led to the 12-day Battle of Blair Mountain. Multiple events are planned looking back at the fight, highlighted by the 45-mile march over three days.

“Every step you take, you just think about what kind of courage that took,” said United Mine Workers international President Cecil Roberts, whose great-uncle, Bill Blizzard, was a leader of the 1921 march as a union subdistrict state organizer.

The miners — whites, Blacks, and European immigrants — banded together, bent on doing something about their treatment by coal operators. They became known as the “Red Neck Army” for the distinctive bandannas around their necks.

Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/09/03/Deadly-1921-coal-miner-revolt-in-West-Virginia-remembered-1/stories/202109030167

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Deadly 1921 coal miner revolt in West Virginia remembered (Original Post) TexasTowelie Sep 2021 OP
Order "Matewan" DVD disk. Available from Netflix. 3Hotdogs Sep 2021 #1
Thanks for remembering & posting about this major event. appalachiablue Sep 2021 #2
You're welcome. TexasTowelie Sep 2021 #3

TexasTowelie

(116,744 posts)
3. You're welcome.
Mon Sep 6, 2021, 10:26 AM
Sep 2021

It was the second thread that I posted about the revolt in the WV Group.

FWIW, I learn a great deal of history myself so I find it very worthwhile searching for articles.

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