#sid hatfield

[thesociologicalcinema]

Matewan Massacre

In 1920 area miners went on strike to gain recognition of UMWA. On May 19 of the same year, twelve Baldwin-Felts Agency guards came from Bluefield to evict the miners from company houses. As guards left town, they argued with town police chief Sid Hatfield and Mayor Testerman. Shooting of undetermined origins resulted in the deaths of two coal miners, seven agents, and the mayor. None of the 19 men indicted were convicted, 2008.

Photo credit: Brandon Ray Kirk

[livesinyesterday]

David Strathairn Appreciation:

Guns - Pt. 1

[footnoteinhistory]

Smilin’ Sid Hatfield, Police Chief of Matewan, United Mine Workers of America supporter, and “defender of the rights of working people” during the West Virginia coal wars of the early 20th century. If you haven’t watched PBS’s documentary The Mine Wars I highly recommend it.

[livesinyesterday]

David Strathairn Appreciation:

Sid Hatfield in Matewan (1987)

[livesinyesterday]

My Favorite David Strathairn Movies

#4: Matewan (1987) - dir. John Sayles

[livesinyesterday]

David Strathairn Appreciation:

Sid Hatfield in Matewan (1987) - dir. John Sayles

[unquietgravekeeper]

So I just finished reading Culture, Class, and Politics in Modern Appalachia. I'm not a doctor so I'm going to keep all but one opinion to myself. And the one opinion is Sid Hatfield was the single one good cop.

[johnbrownfunclubofficial]

just learned about a man, Sid Hatfield. He was Police Chief of Matewan, West Virginia until his murder by union-busting thugs during the Coal Wars. So two. Two good cops. Chris Dorner and Sid Hatfield.

Kinda strange that the orchard that is policing has only ever produced two good apples, isn't it?