Don't Let Big Coal Destroy America's History
Right now, mountaintop removal mining is threatening one of our country's most historic sites, Blair Mountain — the site of the largest labor uprising in U.S. history.
In 1921, 7,000 miners began a march to Mingo County, WV to unionize the southern West Virginia coal mines. Armed guards and deputies from the Mingo County Sheriff's office met the miners at Blair Mountain and a battle raged for days. Eventually, the miners laid down their arms, but the battle led to the advancement of rights for workers across the country.
Tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that Blair Mountain is an important part of our history and deserves to be off limits to mountaintop-removal mining.
Dear Chief Mullins,
I'm writing to let you know that Blair Mountain is important to the entire nation and deserves special protection. The Battle of Blair Mountain was a significant turning point in the struggle for the health of the miners and advanced the rights of working men and women across the country. It is an important national symbol.
Today, Blair Mountain, just like many other mountains in Appalachia, is threatened by mountaintop removal mining, which would irreparably destroy the mountain and the archaeological and historical clues found at this special national landmark. The Programmatic Agreement proposed by the mining companies fails to protect the site. We need the Army Corps of Engineers to step up and provide real protections including prohibiting surface mining within the Battlefield area.
You can protect the sacred ground of Blair Mountain. Allowing Blair Mountain to be blown up by surface mining would be tantamount to allowing the destruction of Yorktown or Gettysburg.
[Your comments will go here]
The Blair Mountain Battlefield holds an important place in our country's history and must be remembered with much more than a plaque. Please prevent mining companies from destroying this irreplaceable piece of our collective history.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
