Just over a month ago, I wrote urging criminal prosecution of Massey Energy executives for the deaths of coal miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine. Since then, more evidence of criminal wrongdoing has been shown and federal prosecutors and the FBI are investigating the corporation and its executives. In addition, citizen pressure urging prosecution is growing and financial problems for the corporation are showing.
I went to Richmond to attend the Massey Energy shareholder meeting on May 18. We could not get inside, but joined more than 1,000 people outside protesting the actions of Massey Energy and their CEO Don Blankenship. One chant that was repeated regularly was "Send Don to Jail." Protesters included coal miners and their families, environmental activists, economic justice advocates and concerned citizens.
