May 19, 2010
Protesters Assemble at Massey Energy Annual Meeting in Richmond
Three Depict Blankenship in Orange Jumpsuit
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) - Concerned citizens from Virginia and surrounding states joined together at a demonstration outside the Massey Energy annual shareholder's meeting Tuesday morning, May 18, 2010 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va. Protesters demanded safe and humane working conditions for miners and for CEO Don Blankenship to be held accountable for criminal negligence.
Protesters argued that Richmond, VA-based Massey puts profit over people, shown by their disregard for the safety of their employees as well as the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining which jeopordizes clean water and air for coalfield communities. The event was organized by Mountain Justice with support from coalfield community organizations Coal River Mountain Watch and the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.
According to the Associated Press, Environmental group Rising Tide DC said group members Kate Finneran, 22, and Oscar Ramirez, 25, were arrested after unfurling a 10-by-10 hand-painted banner that read "Massey: Stop Putting Profits Over People" from the mezzanine above the grand foyer in the hotel. They were charged with trespassing and were expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.
Three protesters wore orange prison jumpsuits representing Don Blankenship. Other participants were holding signs that read "Safe Jobs, Safe Air, Safe Water" and "People and Communities before Profit." Statements from West Virginia coalfield residents were read, including a statement from Chuck Nelson (a former Massey miner from the Coal River Valley, W.Va.), Carol Shoupe (from Eastern Kentucky), and Judy Bonds (also from the Coal River Valley). In celebration of the rich culture and history of the Appalachian Mountains, traditional music was provided by an old-time string ensemble.
According to the Associated Press, the FBI is currently investigating Massey Energy for criminal negligence and its role in the death of 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in Raleigh County, W.Va. Mountain Justice is calling for decision-makers of Massey Energy to be held accountable for their actions which caused the fatal disaster. Similar in sentiment, shareholders of Massey Energy have called for the immediate resignation of Don Blankenship after the Upper Big Branch disaster, calling the distaster a "tragic consequence of the board's failure to challenge Blankenship's confrontational approach to regulatory compliance."
"If an individual drives recklessly and kills someone as a result of that reckless driving, that individual will be prosecuted in West Virginia for involuntary manslaughter," said Russell Mokhiber of prosecutemassey.org. "If a corporation operates a workplace with reckless disregard for worker safety and workers are killed as a result, that corporation should be criminally prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter. Evidence is on the public record indicating that Massey operated the Upper Big Branch mine with reckless disregard for the safety its workers. We're calling on the state of West Virginia to do everything in its power to prosecute Massey and responsible executives for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of the 29 miners."
Chuck Nelson of Glen Daniel, W.Va., said: "Massey Energy is a criminal enterprise. I know from working for them that they cut every corner possible no matter who it might hurt. The subsidiary bosses answer directly to Don Blankenship so Blankenship and these lower level bosses should be held criminally accountable for the disaster at Upper Big Branch."
There were three separate attempts by Upper Big Branch Mine workers to unionize, until their efforts were stopped by Blankenship's threat to close the mine. The miners had to abandon their campaign in order to save their jobs. Union mines are typically safer having their own inspection squads to serve their members and ensure safety. Only six of the forty-five underground mine fatalities between 2007-2009 were in union mines.
Currently there is a lawsuit against Massey alleging more than 3,000 violations of the Clean Water Act and surface mining laws. One of the allegations is that Massey has dumped toxic aluminum from their mines into West Virginia waterways. The lawsuit also alleges Massey is over the permitted limits of many other toxins, including iron, acidity, and suspended solids.
Laura von Dohlen of Richmond said, "Massey is polluting the land and water with toxins in addition to stripping the land with its much-contested practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. Massey, in all areas of its 'business, has no concern for the people and land of Appalachia." According to Forbes.com, Blankenship's salary is $933,369.
Last year at an anti-regulatory rally, Blankenship stated that "Washington and state politicians have no idea how to improve miners' safety. The very idea that they care more about coal miner safety than we do is as silly as global warming."
"Blankenship's hazardous views and actions surrounding safety in his mines have contributed to the death of the miners in the Upper Big Branch Disaster, as well as past mining disasters. Blankenship is running a criminal enterprise and must be held accountable for negligence," von Dohlen said.
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Protesters Assemble at Massey Energy Annual Meeting in Richmond
Three Depict Blankenship in Orange Jumpsuit
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Richmond, VA (HNN) - Concerned citizens from Virginia and surrounding states joined together at a demonstration outside the Massey Energy annual shareholder's meeting Tuesday morning, May 18, 2010 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va. Protesters demanded safe and humane working conditions for miners and for CEO Don Blankenship to be held accountable for criminal negligence.
Protesters argued that Richmond, VA-based Massey puts profit over people, shown by their disregard for the safety of their employees as well as the destructive practice of mountaintop removal coal mining which jeopordizes clean water and air for coalfield communities. The event was organized by Mountain Justice with support from coalfield community organizations Coal River Mountain Watch and the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.
According to the Associated Press, Environmental group Rising Tide DC said group members Kate Finneran, 22, and Oscar Ramirez, 25, were arrested after unfurling a 10-by-10 hand-painted banner that read "Massey: Stop Putting Profits Over People" from the mezzanine above the grand foyer in the hotel. They were charged with trespassing and were expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.
Three protesters wore orange prison jumpsuits representing Don Blankenship. Other participants were holding signs that read "Safe Jobs, Safe Air, Safe Water" and "People and Communities before Profit." Statements from West Virginia coalfield residents were read, including a statement from Chuck Nelson (a former Massey miner from the Coal River Valley, W.Va.), Carol Shoupe (from Eastern Kentucky), and Judy Bonds (also from the Coal River Valley). In celebration of the rich culture and history of the Appalachian Mountains, traditional music was provided by an old-time string ensemble.
According to the Associated Press, the FBI is currently investigating Massey Energy for criminal negligence and its role in the death of 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in Raleigh County, W.Va. Mountain Justice is calling for decision-makers of Massey Energy to be held accountable for their actions which caused the fatal disaster. Similar in sentiment, shareholders of Massey Energy have called for the immediate resignation of Don Blankenship after the Upper Big Branch disaster, calling the distaster a "tragic consequence of the board's failure to challenge Blankenship's confrontational approach to regulatory compliance."
"If an individual drives recklessly and kills someone as a result of that reckless driving, that individual will be prosecuted in West Virginia for involuntary manslaughter," said Russell Mokhiber of prosecutemassey.org. "If a corporation operates a workplace with reckless disregard for worker safety and workers are killed as a result, that corporation should be criminally prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter. Evidence is on the public record indicating that Massey operated the Upper Big Branch mine with reckless disregard for the safety its workers. We're calling on the state of West Virginia to do everything in its power to prosecute Massey and responsible executives for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of the 29 miners."
Chuck Nelson of Glen Daniel, W.Va., said: "Massey Energy is a criminal enterprise. I know from working for them that they cut every corner possible no matter who it might hurt. The subsidiary bosses answer directly to Don Blankenship so Blankenship and these lower level bosses should be held criminally accountable for the disaster at Upper Big Branch."
There were three separate attempts by Upper Big Branch Mine workers to unionize, until their efforts were stopped by Blankenship's threat to close the mine. The miners had to abandon their campaign in order to save their jobs. Union mines are typically safer having their own inspection squads to serve their members and ensure safety. Only six of the forty-five underground mine fatalities between 2007-2009 were in union mines.
Currently there is a lawsuit against Massey alleging more than 3,000 violations of the Clean Water Act and surface mining laws. One of the allegations is that Massey has dumped toxic aluminum from their mines into West Virginia waterways. The lawsuit also alleges Massey is over the permitted limits of many other toxins, including iron, acidity, and suspended solids.
Laura von Dohlen of Richmond said, "Massey is polluting the land and water with toxins in addition to stripping the land with its much-contested practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. Massey, in all areas of its 'business, has no concern for the people and land of Appalachia." According to Forbes.com, Blankenship's salary is $933,369.
Last year at an anti-regulatory rally, Blankenship stated that "Washington and state politicians have no idea how to improve miners' safety. The very idea that they care more about coal miner safety than we do is as silly as global warming."
"Blankenship's hazardous views and actions surrounding safety in his mines have contributed to the death of the miners in the Upper Big Branch Disaster, as well as past mining disasters. Blankenship is running a criminal enterprise and must be held accountable for negligence," von Dohlen said.
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