Tom Breiding

In Waynesburg, working class anger bubbles up at coal miners rally

By Daniel Moore / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Carried by an Americana folk chord progression on acoustic guitar, musician Tom Breiding’s message was as poignant as any rallying cry issued from the podium at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Friday.

“Promises made, promises broken,” Mr. Breiding crooned over a D-chord. “Alpha they promised, Alpha they lied,” calling out bankrupt coal company Alpha Natural Resources, the owner of two mines in the county that this week sought to break its contract with workers so it can restructure its finances.

In multiple verses, he named others: Peabody Energy, Patriot Coal, Murray Energy. Clad uniformly in United Mine Workers of America camouflage, more than 5,000 supporters of the Appalachian coal industry whooped and hollered.