workingclasshistory:

On this day, 13 February 1913, 82-year-old Irish-born labour activist Mother Jones was arrested in West Virginia after martial law was declared to suppress a coal miners’ strike. She was charged with inciting a riot – reportedly for attempting to read the Declaration of Independence – and conspiracy to commit murder. Tried and convicted in a military court, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jones declared “Whatever I have done in West Virginia… I have done it all over the United States. And when I get out, I will do it again.” She was released and pardoned after serving 85 days, although she did contract pneumonia in prison.
Learn more in our podcast episodes 57-58 about West Virginia miners’ struggles at that time: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e57-west-virginia-mine-wars-1902-1922/ https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/2209059455945859/?type=3