The lasting memorial to the many who have perished as a result of coal mining in the state, mostly depicts the industry
The Capitol Building Commission declined to make any changes to a statue to honor coal miners which is being erected on
the Capitol lawn.
Members of environmental and citizens groups told commissioners that they don't oppose the 7-foot bronze statue of a coal
miner itself, but they are offended by one of the four plaques on its base that depicts mountain top mining.
Vivian Stockman of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition said that plaque has turned the statue into an advertisement for
the coal industry "in the most public place in the state."
Yesterday, the commission heard from several critics of that plaque, as well as two supporters, but Nancy Herholdt,
commissioner of culture and history, told them the commission couldn't do anything to alter the plans.
The Commission said changes must be done by the Legislature or the West Virginia Coal Forum. The forum is a joint body
of coal industry and United Mine Workers who are raising $150,000 to pay for it.
Chris Hamilton, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, defended the controversial panel that opponents say
depicts mountain top removal. He said it is a more generic depiction of surface mining, which is an important part of the coal
industry in West Virginia.
Denise Giardina, an author and former Mountain Party candidate for governor, said the plaque is as offensive as if the Sons
of the Confederacy would put one on the Booker T. Washington memorial showing slaves in the fields and saying it honored
the production of low-cost cotton, referring to a phrase on a panel.
Opponents say the intent was to honor miners who have died, "not honoring machines."
Giardina said we should not be honoring "something that honors a process of destroying mountains and taking jobs."
