WEST VIRGINIA (WBOY) — Monday, Aug. 25 marked 104 years since the march to Blair Mountain began. The march, and ultimately the battle, were one of the last events of the West Virginia Mine Wars, which got their spark in north central West Virginia.

After a series of miners' strikes and tension between Appalachian miners and the coal companies, the march to Blair Mountain was intended to free miners who had been jailed under martial law in Mingo County. More than 10,000 miners joined in on the march and had been frustrated after experiencing poor working conditions, unfair wages and other mistreatment. Today, the battle is known as the largest labor uprising in U.S. history.

Erin Bates, Communications Director for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), spoke with 12 News about how imp

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