The Bloody Fight
The West Virginia teachers drew strength from their state’s long history of militant organizing, which began with the Mine Wars of the early twentieth century.
West Virginia miners during what would become known as the Mine Wars.PBS
On February 22, along with two other co-founders of the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, I participated in History Day, a yearly event where museums and historical societies from all over the state set up tables in the state capitol. Normally, the cavernous building remains fairly quiet, as legislators walk along chatting, occasionally peeking over their shoulders at our tables.
But this year was different. We had to wait an hour to get into the building, and as we set up our table display, the hallways filled with teachers. By 9 AM, they were crowded in front the House of Delegates’ and Senate’s chambers, chanting, “Knock, knock! Who’s there? Teachers, teachers, every-where!”
By 10 AM, the hallways were packed and the teachers’ chants were deafening. The 2018 West Virginia teachers’ strike had begun.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.