On April 5, 2010, an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine near Montcoal killed 29 men. Shortly after the disaster, the state funded an independent investigation and ultimately found Massey Energy directly responsible for the explosion. The deaths of these 29 men could have been prevented had basic safety systems been followed. Six years later, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship received th
e maximum sentence for his misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate federal mine safety laws. In the courtroom, prosecutors provided evidence that showed he had encouraged employees to ignore safety standards and practices if they threatened profits. His sentence—one year in prison and a $250,000 fine—was the maximum that could be ordered by a federal judge. At the hearing, victim’s families were not allowed to speak. West Virginia Public Broadcasting quotes Betty Harrah, whose brother Steve was killed in the explosion, “Her not allowing her us to actually, finally, to say something to that man is not right. If he has the right to speak, we should have the right to speak.”
We may not be able to speak to Don Blankenship. But we can write to him. He has 365 days in a jail cell to read our letters, to hear our stories of how Big Coal has affected our lives. This is the beginning of a coordinated effort to send one letter per day to Blankenship during his imprisonment. Driven by the sting of injustice, native West Virginian Ann Bybee-Finley wants to tell Blankenship, who still claims no guilt, of the heartbreak he has caused. She hopes you’ll join her. With one letter a day, perhaps Don Blankenship’s year behind bars will be a year of reflection, filled with daily reminders of pain and grief. What would you say to Don Blankenship? You’ve got his undivided attention now. Send letters to Ann at [email protected]. She will forward them on to Blankenship. He only has one year of punishment, but Ann hopes to make this sentence more meaningful for all of those affected by his actions.
