Thursday, June 9th, 2011

The following email was sent to the 49,000+ supporters of iLoveMountains.org. To sign up to receive free email alerts, click here.

This week, hundreds of people from Appalachia and the nation are peacefully marching toward Blair Mountain in the heart of southern West Virginia.

The march marks the 90th anniversary of the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain, when 10,000 coal miners rose up in opposition against the inhumane treatment they received from coal operators and demanded basic and decent working conditions. The miners were called “rednecks” for the red bandannas around their necks.

Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain is a return to that call for justice – the marchers this week are asking for an end to mountaintop removal mining, sustainable jobs in Appalachia, and stronger labor laws.

Blair Mountain, like so many other historic mountains throughout the region, is currently threatened by mountaintop removal coal mining. But Blair Mountain also serves as a symbol of hope – that, together we can end mountaintop removal and stop people’s personal history, as well and our nation’s cultural history, from literally being blown off the map.

Join the Appalachia Rising marchers in their fight – help us end mountaintop removal coal mining today. Contact your member of Congress and ask him/her to cosponsor the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1375), legislation that would help to end mountaintop removal mining.

www.iLovemountains.org/Blair-Mountain

Thanks for all you do,

Matt Wasson
iLoveMountains.org

P.S. If you can, please join the marchers for the June 11th rally on Blair Mountain:
www.MarchonBlairMountain.org/?page_id=554

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