Editor's Note: Many thanks to those who helped the Beat with photos and information preceding and after the event.
Activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Empire Zinc Mine strike and the subsequent film—Salt of the Earth—that documented the happenings took place from Hurley to the strike site to the Union Hall in Bayard to the Western New Mexico Fine Arts Center Theatre in Silver City.
Not only locals participated in the events, but also various union officials, as well as family members of the strikers came to the area for the commemoration. The morning began with a reception at the United Steelworkers Local 9424, former Local 890, Union Hall in Bayard, where people boarded buses taking them to the strike site, as well as the film locations. After the tour, people gathered back at the Union Hall for lunch and entertainment. At 4 p.m. a panel discussion, featured Iron Women's Auxiliary to Women of Steel members preceded the showing of the film.
Several of the women, who participated on the picket line because their menfolk miners were forbidden by injunction from striking, also took part in the commemoration. Juana Moreno Sierra was on the tour and at the lunch and reception.
Loretta Chacón-Hellerman, the great-neice of Juan Chacón, who was a striker and also acted in the film, provided entertainment throughout the day along with the band, Mobetta Loretta Band. Sponsors who helped bring Loretta and her band from California were: Mimbres Region Arts Council, Holiday Inn Express, IATSE Film Technicians and Local 480 (Santa Fe), and private donor Judith Helzner of Chicago.
Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events At left is Miles Conway, AFSCME Council 18 communications, Hurley Mayor Edward Encinas, speaking, and Hurley native Rodolpho "Rudy" Martinez, waiting to speak. (Photo by Jim Rogers) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events People wait their turn to go through the tunnel underneath the train tracks between Hurley and North Hurley. (Photo by Jim Rogers) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events More people wait their turn to cross under the tracks. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Sponsor Ed Stevens of Suntreat Beverages, in the blue shirt at right, provided beverages to tour guests and watches the line at the tunnel from the Hurley side. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Women exit the tunnel. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Tour guests gather at the North Hurley side of the tunnel after crossing under the tracks. Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Tour host Terry Humble (at right) was interviewed after the strike site presentations by a film crew documenting the 60th anniversary event. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Crowd of tour guests at the Empire Zinc Mine strike site. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner). Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Plaque at the strike site, commemorating the women who stood on the picket line because they hubands, fathers and sons were in jail. (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events A lunch and reception was held at the United Steelworkers 890 Union Hall, with music by Loretta Chac+?n-Hellerman, great-niece of Juan Chac+?n, one of the men who led the strike and also played in the movie, Salt of the Earth. From left, are AFSCME Council 18 communications represenative Miles Conway, Grant County Sheriffs Deputy and vice president of AFSCME council 18 Michael Burns, Grant County president of AFSCME 18 Manny Maldonado, one of the women picketers 88-year-old Juana Moreno Sierra, president of the union at Western New Mexico University Vangie Chapin, state president for the southwest region Rose Sanchez, and state staff representative Steven Griego. These were the organizers and participants in the events. (Photo by Mary Alice Murphy) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Juana Moreno Sierra, 88, one of the women who picketed in place of their menfolk. "Yes, I was on the picket line. We were mostly women. I give thanks to God, I still remember." (Photo by Mary Alice Murphy) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Loretta Chac+?n-Hellerman, great niece of Juan Chac+?n, provided much of the music for the events. She is pictured here on stage at the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theater before the showing of "Salt of the Earth." (Photo by Ronnee-Sue Helzner) Salt of the Earth 60th Anniversary events Green Chamber representative Cissy McAndrew thanks food donors at the WNMU Fine Arts Theatre reception. Patrons honored SALT OF THE EARTH strike participants by viewing original photographs, current photos of elders, and displays.
Patrons honored Salt of the Earth participants by presenting original photographs, current photos of elders, and displays. The Southwestern New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce coordinated the reception at the FACT; members providing food donations included Vicky's Eatery, Diane's Restaurant and Tre Rosat. Grant County musicians on the film, Silver City Dreaming, performed their songs from the film during the reception. The film, which promotes Grant County and filmmaking, was premiered at the event prior to the showing of Salt of the Earth.
Sponsors of the events were plentiful. Local musicians were sponsored by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Tehnicians, Artis and Allied Crafts of the U.S. and KURU 89.1, Greg Renfro, Jean Eisenhower and WNMU. Other sponsors of events included Unitied Steelworkers & Local 9424-Bayard, AFSCME Public Employees' Union and Council 18, New Mexico Federation of Labor, United Steelworkers Women of Steel, Murray Hotel, SWNM Green Chamber of Commerce, Silver City & Cobre Education Associations, Silver City Tourism, Suntreat Beverages, and private citizens.
Here are links to two short videos on YouTube by Ronnee-Sue Helzner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd6lg0h6oMc&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVzH5wHAF48&feature=youtu.be