Don L. Blankenship Notes Out of State Protesters Wasting West Virginia Tax Dollars and Putting Miners and Troopers at Risk
CHARLESTON, W.V., June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a personal statement today, Don L. Blankenship, the Chairman and CEO of Massey Energy stated that out of state protesters had come in to West Virginia to protest surface mining. In the process, they endangered miners, West Virginia state troopers, Boone County deputies and themselves, and wasted West Virginia taxpayer money.
“It is my understanding that all but one of the fourteen protesters who were arrested for scaling a dragline at Massey Energy’s Twilight Mine in Southern West Virginia are residents of states other than West Virginia; such as Maine, Oklahoma, Michigan and Florida,” said Mr. Blankenship. “As a native of Appalachia and a resident of West Virginia, I find it hypocritical that these folks come from out of the state to waste West Virginians’ tax dollars and endanger our state troopers and miners.”
“When protesters perform dangerous acts such as scaling the boom of a piece of equipment to gain media attention, they not only put themselves at risk, but also put our miners and state troopers in danger. Every West Virginian should be outraged that these people come from outside our state to shut down mines that are legally permitted to operate. These media stunts take law enforcement personnel away from essential crime fighting and first response activities and puts all West Virginians at risk.”
“It is clear that these folks are not concerned with the people, the environment or the economy of West Virginia. Their efforts are purely about gaining hype and media attention for their out-of-state funders and patrons,” concluded Blankenship. “It is time for all West Virginians to stand up and say enough is enough to the protesters. We know our state and our economy and we won’t be told what to do.”
The above was a personal statement of Don L. Blankenship.
SOURCE Don L. Blankenship