Currently, Guyan Surface Mine in Yolyn stands to lose more than 200

workers if the company’s valley fill permit is revoked. The issue comes before a federal judge on May 31.

Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll said the effects of losing 200-plus jobs will devastate not only Logan County, but all of southern West Virginia.

Kirkendoll said everyone involved in the coal industry needs to voice their support for the industry that gives so many people a good living.

We can all work together, Kirkendoll said. We can do it right and be the model for the world.

Several state dignitaries attended the rally and Gov. Joe Manchin gave a rousing speech and received a standing ovation for assuring the miners they have his full support.

I stand proudly beside you, Manchin said. I’m going to walk with you.

All we want is a level playing field. I’m a friend of coal. You’re a friend a coal. Everyone in this great nation should be a friend of coal.

Keynote speaker United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts whipped the crowd into a furor with his preacher speech.

Roberts had all the event speakers stand behind him while he talked to the crowd about how important coal is to Logan County and West Virginia.

We’re all in this together, Roberts said.

This is not a coal industry issue. This is not a nonunion issue and I thank those people who are not in the union for coming. This is not just a UMWA issue. This is not just about tax revenue coming to the state. This is not just about the county commission and their budget. This is truthfully about all of us. All of us.

The governor wants you to keep your job, Roberts continued. Sen. Byrd wants you to keep your job. Sen. Rockefeller wants you to keep your job.

Congressman Rahall wants you to keep your job. The county commission wants you to keep your job. The chamber of commerce wants you to keep your job.

The coal association wants you to keep your job. The AFL-CIO wants you to keep your job. The leadership of the district wants you to keep your job.

All the people who testified tonight want you to keep your job. So, my question is Who is it that don’t want you to keep your job???

Former West Virginia University football coach and Friends of Coal spokesperson Don Nehlen also voiced his support for the miners in Logan County.

Coal makes us No. 1, Nehlen said to loud cheers.

Local union representative Ernie Woods read letters of support from Senator John D. Rockefeller and U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, as well as a letter from Congressman Nick Rahall. Raamie Barker, assistant to Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, read a letter from Tomblin voicing his support for the miners and their industry.

Roger Horton, a local union safety committee chairman, said We’re fighting a war against economic terrorism, referring to attacks on the coal mining industry by environmentalist groups.

Weve been attacked, Horton said. We want to work and we have a greater love for our lands than anyone else.

Chapmanville Mayor Jerry Price, also a coal miner, said no one wants to lose their jobs.

These people call this place home and they don’t want to leave, Price said. I want to stand up and tell them they won’t have to leave.

AFL-CIO representative Kenny Perdue said miners are ready for a fight.

‘To the people who are taking us on watch out. We’re not backing up, Perdue said. ‘We are here to fight for West Virginia.’

Newly-elected Senator Ron Stollings said he’s glad to see people coming into West Virginia to work in the coal mines.

‘You can get a job in the coal mines,’ Stollings said. ‘People are coming back here from North Carolina.

It’s a great day to be a southern West Virginia person. I see everyone smiling and the economy’s good, but it’s back to the same old uneasy feast or famine. We ought to be mining more coal and we ought to be finding new ways to use coal instead of people trying to shut us down.

We ought to be getting coal liquefaction and gasification and it’d be nice to have it right here in this area. I pray that the judge will take into consideration the impact... it would jerk the rug right out from under us.

Newly-elected Delegate Ralph Rodighiero also gave his support for the coal industry. I’m going to stand with you until the end, Rodighiero said.