Battle of Evarts

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The Battle of Evarts is the name given to a mining strike and ensuing violence that occurred in Harlan County, Kentucky in 1931. In February of 1931, The Harlan County Coal company cut wages for their employees. The United Mine Workers union responded by holding a rally in Pineville, drawing over 2,000 attendees. This and other wage cuts and firings led to a strike, and on May 5th a non-union worker was accosted by union mine workers, leading to three deaths. Eventually governor Flem D. Sampson had to call in the National Guard to quell unrest. The strike ended in June and led to several deaths and arrests.