19th century West Virgina saw conflict between coal Miners and Mine owners. Due to unjust conditions imposed by Mine owners, Miners formed a Mine Workers Union. Not all Mines were unionized and Southern West Virginian Mine owners worked diligently to prevent unionization.

10,000 thousand odd Northern Union Mine workers led a march to the southern non Union West Virgina where their brother miners were denied unionization . Southern West Virgina Mine owners employed law enforcement, politicians and 'private detectives' (nothing more than company employed thugs) to harass, intimidate , imprison and kill miners who tried to Unionize.

The marching Union Mine workers tied a red scarf/bandanna around their necks to identify themselves. A reporter who was covering this march coined the term 'Redneck'.

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