PIKEVILLE, Kentucky—The Militant’s coverage and editorial support for workers’ struggles to unionize the mines as the answer to preventing more deaths of coal and other miners on the job is getting a wider hearing in eastern Kentucky and in West Virginia.

Three Militant supporters—this reporter included—visited the region August 3-5, where the most recent deaths of coal miners have taken place. We sold 246 copies of the paper and 15 subscriptions.

Some 15 miners, loggers, and other workers bought the paper August 3 at an intersection leading to the Hobet mine in West Virginia, which is organized by the United Mine Workers of America.

That afternoon, 50 miners bought copies and one subscribed in Freeburn, Kentucky. Cam Mining’s Slate Branch Mine is located there. John May died July 20 while working at this mine. Some of May’s co-workers were among those who purchased copies of the paper. “I worked in the Old Fork mine in Matewan [West Virginia] for 41 years,” said retired miner Jess Dodson who picked up a copy along the road leading to the mine.

One woman told us we were selling at the wrong place after buying a copy at a shopping center in Hindman, Kentucky. Jason Mosley was killed there on July 18 when a highwall collapsed on him at the Hendrickson Equipment’s Smith Branch No. 1 surface mine. “You need to go to the Exxon station in Isom to meet miners going to and coming from work,” she said. “They stop there to get a sandwich or coffee.” She was right! We sold 93 copies and three subscriptions there August 4.

The next day we went to Harlan County, Kentucky, the fourth Militant sales team to visit the area after five miners died at the Darby Mine No. 1 there on May 20. Workers in the area bought 69 copies of the Militant and eight subscriptions.

“I don’t work in a coal mine but I’m in a union,” said Mark Brock, who bought a copy outside Don’s supermarket in Harlan. Brock is an electrician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “Here’s a little extra to help with the paper,” he said, handing over $5.

—DAN FEIN