Keeper of the Mountains Joins Thousands at Appalachia Rising

Larry Gibson inspiring hundreds at Voices From the Mountains





Larry Gibson Arrested with Hundreds & Hear the Voices of Supporters at Appalachia Rising (thank you Chad Stevens for the Video!)

Larry Invites You To STAND UP at Appalachia Rising

When I went to New York, I called for the rebirth of resistance, and I never thought I’d hear such a roar of people saying “Yeah, we need the rebirth of resistance.” Well yeah, we need a rebirth of resistance here to get back what the people have lost! Right now there is not enough resistance. We are natural organizers. We live in the area called the coalfields - where the union was strong. If we hadn’t organized in the beginning we would never have had anything. We can’t back up… We gotta get that grit back. That’s what we’ve got to find in people today. They’ve got it; they’ve just forgotten that they have it. Join me in resisting Mountaintop Removal at Appalachia Rising in Washington DC.

                                      - Larry Gibson

Housing
Organizers have secured fee and low budget ($20/night) housing in churches and hostels for people who can sleep on the floor or in bunks. To reserve your space, please fill out this form.

For a complete list of cheap hotels, go to this website.

Getting to Washington DC

Register for Appalachia Rising here, and we will put you in touch with mobilizers in your area who will help you get to DC. Mobilizers are organizing transportation in vans, buses, and carpools from all over the US.

Voices from the Mountains, Saturday and Sunday September 26 and 27

Voices from the Mountains is a movement-building summit the weekend before of Appalachia Rising's Day of Action. While the day of action puts our movement into unified action, Voices from the Mountains lays the groundwork of future collaboration and movement growth. It will combine information sessions from experts and directly impacted people, strategy sessions to bring the movement forward, speakers, entertainment, and skill-based workshops. See the schedule on the website here.

Day of Action, Monday September 27

The Day of Action will be a march of thousands of people, taking our message directly to the White House. For individuals who choose, there will be non-violent civil disobedience. Trainings are provided over the weekend.

Schedule:
                  10 AM: Rally at Freedom Plaza
                  11 AM: March Begins
                  12:15 PM: March arrives at Lafayette Park, at the White House.

Build the buzz & Spread the word
We need you to come, and bring your friends, families, and co-workers to this historic event. In the final weeks before Appalachia Rising, now is the time to spread the word with all the tools we have available. Use the multimedia on the website to inspire your friends on facebook. Spread, or write blog posts like this one by Appalachia Rising organizer, Dea Goblirsch, or this one, by environmental hero Tim DeChristopher

Twitter: Follow @App_Rising on twitter. Sample tweet: Appalachia Is Rising. Join the nat'l rally to save the mtns Sept 25-27: www.appalachiarising.org @app_rising #apprising #stopmtr

Our friend, Mickey McCoy of Inez Kentucky summed it up perfectly. "I'd rather not travel to Washington DC. I'd rather not break the law in non-violent civil disobedience. Frankly, I'd like to work in the garden in my retirement, but when 300 million gallons of toxic coal sludge from a Massey Energy impoundment flooded Martin County, my home, I found myself in a fight for the life of my land and community, and with those stakes, you don't have a choice. The time for action is now!"

Great Time on Labor Day Weekend + Upcoming Changing of the Leaves Festival

Larry and Carol have the first dance to Tony Rogers and Dave's "One Love" - a real touching moment



This past Labor Day Weekend on Kayford Mountain was a great time for everyone who made it out!  We want to send a HUGE thank you to musicians Aaron Scott, Paige Dalporto, Elizabeth LaPrelle, Tony Rogers of The Ahs Band & his friend Dave, and Kipp McGhee of Pavlov's Dog for coming out to donate a performance to the weekend. 

Mark your Calendars for the Changing of the Leaves Festival on Saturday, Oct. 9th and Sunday, Oct. 10th - it'll be one of the last good camping weekends before it gets cold - so come on out, hear some great music, and enjoy the leaves with friends & family.

Elizabeth LaPrelle singing the chilling "West Virginia Mine Disaster"


For the first time EVER - Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" on the banjo

Labor Day Music Festival on Kayford Mountain

Larry Gibson's inviting everyone up to Kayford Mountain for his annual Labor Day Festival on Saturday, Sept. 4th starting at Noon with Music starting at 3:30 - hope you can make it!
Schedule of Music:

3:30 --> Tony Rodgers of "The Ahs" from Hinton, WV
5:00 --> Paige Dalporto from Charleston, WV
6:00 --> Elizabeth Laprelle from Rural Retreat Virginia
7:00 --> Aaron Scott & Kipp McGee

This Labor Day Festival will feature local and regional musicians playing a variety of bluegrass, gospel, folk and old time music, as well as pot-luck meals. The headliners will be area musicians Kipp McGhee and Aaron Scott, who has opened for such major musicians as Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Kenny Chesney.

This is a free concert that will celebrate Appalachian life and attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish. The purpose of the concert, according to local citizen activist Larry Gibson, is to “bring family and friends together for a weekend of celebrating West Virginia’s heritage and freedom." September 4th will see people from all walks of life, bound by their common love of our mountains and people.



Elizabeth & Sandy Laprelle singing at Kayford's 2008 Mountain Keepers Music Festival


Directions to Kayford Mountain

Camping is open on Saturday night - bring an instrument and we'll jam!

* If you can't make this - or have some spare time around noon before you come up to Kayford- it'd be great to check out the Blair Mountain Labor Day Event starting at noon at the Whipple Company Store in Fayette County