Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forumMATEWAN - The Battle of Blair Mountain
The story of the miners strggle for decent working conditions back in 1920. Culminating in the Matewan massacre.
You can read where Alan Grayson posted the entire story on his thread, The Second Civil War here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/125177543#op
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)wrote, directed and produced this sprawling look at how messy everything can turn into when two forces beat on each other.
The ting is all this brutality and lawlessness was taking well into the 20th century
freshwest
(53,661 posts)The company goons were unable to shift them geographically. They weren't living on company property. That gave them more leeway, a public face and support among more people. They went straight to the box cars at the downtown railway yards where the goons were arriving. They all knocked heads there so it didn't get this far. I'd like to see this shown to the Tea Party and the Libertarians. Then see what they have to say, if they'd be moved at all and see that they are wrong about unions and giving so much power to corporations.
radiclib
(1,811 posts)They'd call it liberal hippie made-up propaganda.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)An excellent film
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Heather MC
(8,084 posts)truth2power
(8,219 posts)yesterday. I didn't know you could view it online.
Everyone should watch it.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Heather MC
(8,084 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)http://dvd.netflix.com/Search?v1=Matewan&ac_abs_posn=1&fcld=true&ac_rel_posn=1&ac_category_type=movie&raw_query=Matewan&raw_query=Matewan
Good point. Why is this information not in the standard history books?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/125177543#post16
Let me see if it still comes through...
'Matewan (1987)
Well-intentioned labor leader Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) arrives in Matewan, W. Va., to unionize the the coal mine workers. But his efforts to organize the coal company workers spark one of the most violent incidents in the history of the 1920-21 Coal Wars. Tensions grow between the minors and the company men, igniting a powder keg of racial hostility, corruption and betrayal. John Sayles directs; James Earl Jones also stars.
Cast: Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones
Director: John Sayles
Genre: Drama
Format: DVD
Rated PG-13Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.'
I think it may still be there, I clicked on it although I don't have an account with Netflix. So give it try at this link here:
http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Matewan/60010638?strkid=1805953148_0_0&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strackid=5a2579fe5934d140_0_srl&trkid=222336
Yes, I think if you have an account with them, you can see it on Netflix.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)that means if 500 people save the movie in their cue Netflix will make it available, I know I Saved it before someone posted the entire movie on DU through YouTube of course. I watched it last night. life is good.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)JourneyAmerica
(2 posts)Enjoyg
freshwest
(53,661 posts)BLAIR, W.Va. (AP) - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., country singer Kathy Mattea and more than 1,000 environmental activists, labor union members and Appalachian coalfield residents capped a 50-mile march to the foot of historic Blair Mountain with a rally Saturday against large-scale surface coal mining.
Marchers who had set out Monday to walk from Charleston to the mountain fear it could be destroyed by surface mines. They cherish the steep, tree-covered slopes for their role in U.S. labor history. Kennedy and many in the crowd want to protect the mountain from mining to extract the rich coal that it holds.
The path taken by the marchers is rich with history: Some 10,000 unionizing coal miners marched the same route in 1921 to battle authorities and coal company officials. The fight ended when federal troops were summoned to put down the largest armed uprising in America since the Civil War.
Short URL: http://wj.la/mGg6oz
There is a picture at the link of the crowd and reference to a documentary made by RFK, Jr. It is a well-rounded article with both sides given coverage and more details. Those who are in favor of the strip mining and mountain removal are being paid very well, so their mouths will speak for the owners.
I've seen this occur up close in a rural community over this process, which was going to destroy wildlife habitat, go against the wishes of the owners, by an international firm who had worked the county government very well and just steam rolled the majority. The ones making the money from a very few jobs were the loudest and most aggressive, shouting over the rest.
This part of WV looks like one of the most beautiful natural places on Earth, and the world is not short on coal. This is about corporate profits and poverty. Kennedy says that, "Strip mining is not just destroying the environment in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, but it is permanently impoverishing people," Kennedy said. "The coal industry is not bringing prosperity." But a few will prosper and they are a united group against nature the area. Worldwide problem now, the violence being done.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)The last day of our 6 day march finds 1000 people marching up 1900 ft to the summit of Blair Mountain.
http://www.friendsofblairmountain.org
This is the union and residents speaking. Some of these folks have some trouble breathing, perhaps from lung trouble. They explain what is happening to the environment they have lived in and loved. They are good people, take a listen to them.