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"COAL COUNTRY" PREMIER CANCELED OVER RISING TENSION |
| (07/09/2009) |
| With tensions rising in the West Virginia coal fields, the premier of "Coal Country" at a South Charleston theater has been canceled. The board of directors of the South Charleston Museum has canceled the premier of the documentary because of security concerns. "Coal Country," a documentary by Braxton County native Mari-Lynn Evans chronicles the fight against mountaintop removal mining and the efforts by coal supporters to defend their way of life. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. While they all share a deep connection to the land, mountaintop removal is tearing them apart. While the operators of the La Belle Theater would not release information regarding the cancellation, rumors have surfaced that miners would be coming to the movie house with pickets. Coal miners and their families have angrily reacted to several recent events sponsored by a number of environmental groups. Twenty mining supporters crashed a Fourth of July celebration at the home of environmentalist Larry Gibson on Kayford Mountain, yelling obscenities and making threats, according to a video of the event. At a scheduled program hosted by environmental groups at Marsh Fork School, miners circled the speakers, drowning out their voices with cursing, air horns and recorded music. WV State Police did not remove the miners from the scheduled program. Later, in a public protest, 31 environmentalists were arrested on the highway. See related story Drunken Supporters Crash July 4 Environmental Picnic
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