Friday, March 5, 2010

Coal Miner Union Members Speak Out Sunday

Join us Sunday March 7th for a panel discussion by
former union coal miners from the United Mine Workers
of America! Come hear them discuss the strikes they
took part in and their current work to stop Mountain
Top Removal, the destruction of environment, community,
economy, and culture of Appalachia by blowing off
mountaintops to extract coal.

** When?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
5:30pm - 8:30pm

** Where?
St. Stephen's Church (downstairs)
1525 Newton Street NW
Washington, DC

The movement to stop Mountain Top Removal in
Appalachia has been growing for years, in part
thanks to former Union miners who have stepped
into leadership roles throughout the country. While
locally the history of the Union and its militant
struggles is common knowledge, few people outside
of the "hollows" of Appalachia know these stories.

The panel will cover everything from the "wildcat strikes"
to what the United Mine Workers of America meant for
people's daily lives. Panelists will also talk about the
Pittston Strike, a strike which lasted 11 months, covered
3 states, led to thousands of arrests and included a mass
occupation of the Moss 3 Prep Plant, a mining facility in
the area. Finally, the panel will look at how their involvement
in the UMWA affects their role in the current movement to
end Mountain Top Removal.

Cosponsored by:
DC Radical Space Collective
the RRENEW Collective
DC Rainforest Action Network
DC Rising Tide