FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND MEDIA UPDATES ABOUT THE MARCH ON BLAIR MOUNTAIN GO TO WWW.MARCHONBLAIRMOUNTAIN.ORG

Click here for information on the Hazel Dickens memorial and March on Blair Mountain Benefit Concert!

Appalachia Rising supports non violent direct action to build the movement to end strip mining and support sustainability and self-determination in Appalachia. We work in solidarity with people across the nation working for justice in their communities. Join us at our next event - Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain! We march to abolish mountaintop removal, strengthen labor rights, demand sustainable job creation in all Appalachian communities, and preserve Blair Mountain

Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain

We are so glad you are joining us for Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain! Here you will find all the information you need to participate in the event! 

PLEASE NOTE: We are organizing logistics for hundreds of participants in the March and hundreds more of the Rally and Day of Action in a rural area that has few accommodations already in place, so the information regarding the specific logistics for this event are subject to change.

Please check back in with us on the event website www.marchonblairmountain.org, prior to the event, for the final details.

The Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain and the culminating Rally and Day of Action will be June 4th to 11th in southern West Virginia’s coalfields. Hundreds of people from Appalachia and across the nation will embark on an historic march to demand an end to mountaintop removal, the strengthening of labor rights, sustainable job creation in Appalachian communities, and the preservation of Blair Mountain.

The Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain is a non-violent, unifying event involving environmental justice organizations, union workers, scholars, artists, and other citizens and groups. The march commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921, when 10,000 coal miners rose against the rule of the coal operators and fought for the basic right to live and work in decent conditions.

Today, Blair Mountain, like dozens of other historic mountains throughout the region, is being threatened by mountaintop removal and it is here that a new generation of Appalachians takes a stand. By working to preserve this mountain we are demanding an end to the destructive practices of MTR that threatens to strip Central Appalachia of its history, its economic potential and its health.

This event builds on the energy of Appalachia Rising, which brought thousands to the streets of Washington DC last September, and spread to Kentucky where dozens occupied their governor’s office for justice in their state and the region last February. Now we are bringing the movement to Blair Mountain.

*If you plan to attend the Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain and have not yet registered, please do so today! Click Here

Participating in the March & Rally & Day of Action

There are two ways to participate:

1) You can attend the march, as well as The Rally and Day of Action

Participants that plan to attend The March should arrive in Charleston, WV on the afternoon or evening of June 4th to be shuttled to Marmet, WV. Our Orientation Day will begin the following morning in Marmet, WV–it is critical that participants attend this Orientation Day in order for us to have a safe and effective march. Marchers will move out Monday morning and, over the next five days, march 50 miles to the town of Blair, WV, arriving on June 10th. The following morning, on June 11th, The Rally and Day of Action will begin in Blair. Shuttles will be available to take participants back to their vehicles in Charleston once the event is over.

2) You can attend just The Rally and Day of Action

Participants that plan to attend just The Rally and Day of Action should arrive in Logan, WV on the morning of Friday June 10th if they are able. Beginning at 1pm on June 10th, we will be hosting a Training Day in Logan, WV so that participants will be prepared for the events the following day. If you need to arrive on the evening of June 9th, or the morning of June 11th, accommodations will be available. Again, we strongly encourage those that are able to attend the Training Day on the 10th.

*NOTE: The details of these accommodations and the corresponding agenda is listed in the “MARCH AND RALLY INFO.” tab.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW