Lou Martin, professor of History at Chatham University, gives a talk entitled "The Many Battles of Blair Mountain: Mine Wars, Environmental Activism and Heritage Tourism in Southern West Virginia." Martin discusses the Miner's March from Marmette to Blair Mountain in 1921 and the ensuing fight between the heavily armed miners and roughly four thousand "Logan Defender's" under the command of the Logan County sheriff. He also discusses the 2011 protest which took the form of a recreation of the Miner's March, aimed at protesting mountaintop removal mining practices and specifically the impending removal of the top of Blair Mountain. Martin talks at length about starting the Mine Wars Museum in Matewan and efforts to engage the community and preserve the history of labor struggles in southern West Virginia. Martin answers questions from the audience following his talk. He is introduced by John Beck, professor of Human Resources and Labor Relations. Part of the "Our Daily Work/Our Daily Lives" Brown Bag series sponsored by the MSU School of Human Resources and Labor Relations and the MSU Museum. Held in the MSU Museum auditorium.
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