Labor Scholars Stand in Solidarity to Protect Blair Mountain (Oct. 6)
Prominent labor scholars, activists, and artists from around the world have signed an open letter today in support of relisting Blair Mountain on the National Register of Historic Places. With this letter, the signees stand in solidarity with coalfield community members such as Kenneth King – a Logan County resident who has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to protect Blair Mountain. Many thanks to Dr. Brian Kelly, professor of history at Queens University, Belfast (N. Ireland), for initializing this open letter and for working with the Friends of Blair Mountain to save this extremely important part of West Virginian history. As Hazel Dickens said, and as we all know here in central Appalachia, ‘there ain’t no way they can ever keep us down, oh no!’
We’re going to win this second Battle of Blair Mountain, we’re going to keep rising, let’s keep up the pressure!!!
Sincerely,
Friends of Blair Mountain
www.friendsofblairmountain.org
- Read the Open Letter
- Read the Official Press Release
- Op-Ed by Harvard Ayers: Battle of Blair Mountain Revisited
UPDATED TUESDAY, October 26, 2010
This photo vividly shows the enclosing danger of the Camp Branch mine. The narrow strip of land in the middle is part of the Blair Mountain battlefield. Photo by Kenneth King (View larger version)
Destruction
Taking Place on Blair Mountain
Local citizens, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and the Friends of Blair Mountain are working together to preserve the site of the largest labor insurrection in US history.
The National Trust, Sierra Club, and OVEC have filed a petition (pdf) asking the National Park Service to reevaluate the listing on the National Register due to major discrepancies in the nomination process (read the press release).
This reevaluation is all the more urgent due to the recently discovered destruction of five locations within the battlefield, as seen in the video below and documented in a report by the Friends of Blair Mountain.
Please take action now. Write the National Park Service and kindly ask them to reconsider the listing!
POSTED Friday, July 17, 2010
Join The Campaign to Save Blair Mountain!
POSTED Monday, January 25, 2010
100 Letters to One Person. Result: the Blair Mountain Battlefield Gets the Respect and Protection it Deserves
Help turn up the heat on the Keeper of the National Register, Carol Shull, to Reverse the De-listing of the Blair Mountain Battlefield. Send your letter NOW.
Blair Mountain's Historical
Status Revoked!
As we announced last year, the site of the 1921 Coal-Field-Wars Battle of Blair Mountain site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 2009. We are now sad to announce that the Battlefield has been removed from the Register. This was done by the Interim Keeper of the National Register, Carol Shull, on the recommendation of J. Paul Loether, Chief of the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark Program. The Interim Keeper and her office is part of the National Park Service.
The supporters of the listing of the Blair Mountain Battlefield are evaluating their options, legal and otherwise. Stay tuned to this website over the next couple of weeks to see how you might help us fight this “Second Battle of Blair Mountain.”
In the mean time, read our recount of the situation, and also check Jeff Biggers great piece in the Huffington Post.
POSTED Monday, January 11, 2010
For more information about the Friends of Blair Mountain, contact
Harvard Ayers
Anthropology Department
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6381
harvard@boone.net