'74 Textbook Foes Plan Reunion

The Associated Press reports on a slated Aug. 22 reunion of those who sought to remove an array of textbooks from Kanawha County public schools in 1974, mounting a protest "that drew national attention to the state and erupted in violence."

Sparked by a then-member of the school board (who is expected to attend the South Charleston event), the protests "escalated until thousands of miners and other workers walked off their jobs in support of removing the textbooks," AP's Tom Breen writes. "Police confronted rock throwing and more serious violence: two elementary schools and the school board offices were bombed. Kanawha County schools were closed, with the superintendent warning of ‘mob rule.’

Reunion plans also include a Web site.