Verizon Apologizes for Sponsoring Don Blankenship's Rally

by: Clem Guttata

Sat Sep 12, 2009 at 08:50:51 AM EDT

Update: The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has a complete update on the story at their website, and is asking its members to vote if they should stop using Verizon phones. Please visit their site and offer your support. They did a fabulous job in keeping attention on Verizon's involvement in Don Blankenship's Labor Day rally. Also, see this comment by One Citizen on press coverage of Verizon's 'apology.'

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Congratulations to everyone who signed a petition, emailed Verizon, or voted with your pocket book. In a stunning turn of events, Verizon Rolls Over: Company Apologizes for Sponsoring Climate-Denier Rally.

I agree with Rob Perks:

A few days late and a thousand dollars short.  That's how I'd describe the belated victory over Verizon Wireless.  I mean, I appreciate the sentiment, Lowell, but really, this embarrassing episode for your company easily could have been avoided.

Rob lays out what happened (emphasis mine).

Verizon Wireless, which markets itself as environmentally friendly, clearly made a mistake affiliating its brand with this anti-"green" rally.  But instead of heeding customer complaints by withdrawing its sponsorship, company officials first tried to play clueless about the overt political aspect of the event, and then stubbornly stayed the course for fear of angering the coal crowd.

Not only did they play clueless, but along the way they even managed to say a few offensive things about environmentalists, too.

Well, yesterday the CEO of Verizon Wireless, Mr. Lowell "Mea Culpa" McAdam, offered a public apology -- in the form of a letter to the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that organized around this issue.

In an effort to "set the record straight," McAdams explains that Verizon Wireless' sponsorship was not meant as an expression of support for the coal industry's political agenda.  He insists that the company does not support mountaintop removal coal mining, nor does it oppose federal climate legislation.  He goes on to clarify that Verizon Wireless "supports the goals of policy makers who are committed to reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment."  McAdams then takes the opportunity to tout Verizon's corporate commitment to sustainability.

So there you have it: Verizon Wireless' belated apology for violating its stated environmental values, undermining its credibility as a "green" company, and breaking its trust with customers.

Kudos to each and everyone of you who contacted the company to voice your views and concerns about the situation.  Looks like Verizon Wireless heard you...now.

There are many reasons why sponsoring Don Blankenship's Labor Day event was a bad idea for Verizon Wireless--environmental issues were the ones that got traction nationally.

Finally, a huge congratulations and major kudos to everyone who has been covered this story so effectively at West Virginia Blue.

* False Advertising by Blankenship and "Friends" Unreported By Corporate Media (9/10 by One Citizen)
* Don Blankenship's Labor Day Rally (9/9 by Clem Guttata)
* Coal CEO Declares War on Labor Day (9/3 by One Citizen)
* Don-A-Pollute-Za: Don Blankenship Labor Day Rally Poster Unveiled (9/6; Heath Harrison's poster)
* Verizon Wireless can hear us now (9/5 by Clem Guttata)
* Over 20 groups call for Verizon Wireless to answer for support of Blankenship's rally (9/4 by Clem Guttata)
* Coal CEO Declares War on Labor Day (9/3 by One Citizen)
* Legacy of Coal: MTR and Verizon Wireless (9/2 by jlms qkw)
* Verison Wireless To Unveil New Sport Featuring Its New Anti-Environmental Stance (9/2 by One Citizen)
* Verizon Wireless dropped signal (9/2 by Carnacki)
* Verizon Wirless hits a dead zone (9/1 by Clem Guttata)
* Can you hear us now? (8/31 by Carnacki)
* Act Now: Verizon Wireless Sponsors Union-Busting Mountaintop Removal Rally (8/29 by Clem Guttata)
* Warning: Doing the Labor Day Wango Tango with Don Blankenship may be fatal. (8/23 by One Citizen)
* The coalfield Don brings in Hannity and washed-up friends to rally for MTR (8/10 by Heath Harrison)

This has to be the worst $1,000 Verizon Wireless has ever spent.