The largest armed labor uprising in American history was 101 years ago

[packman]

THE REDNECK ARMY


In late August 1921, some 15,000 mine workers and allies banded together across racial, gender, religious and ethnic lines and marched south from the town of Marmet, W.Va. They were determined to free jailed miners who, for decades, had been trying to unionize the southern West Virginia coalfields. Some marchers dressed in military uniforms — many were World War I veterans — while others wore blue-jean overalls. All tied red bandanas around their necks. Known as the “Red Neck Army,” they were highly organized and armed to the teeth.

The miners never reached their intended destination. Instead, beginning on Aug. 31, they clashed with coal company deputies, mine guards and the state militia over five and half days of combat at Blair Mountain. It was the largest armed uprising since the Civil War — and it ended only when the U.S. Army intervened. It was the second time in American history the government planned to bomb its own citizens — only three months after the first, Oklahoma’s Tulsa Race Massacre.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Open-Forum-west-virginia-labor-17413503.php

[orthoclad]

1. Good context

Placing it alongside the Tulsa massacre. The government bombing both rednecks and Blacks.

"It's only class war when we fight back."