At least 60,000 expected for Labor Day 'Friends of America Rally' in southern W.Va. coalfields
Associated Press
09/01/09 8:45 AM PDT
MORGANTOWN, W.VA. — The Center for Biological Diversity is calling on Verizon Wireless to drop its sponsorship of a Friends of America Rally and free concert organized largely by the coal industry.
Director Kieran Suckling says the center will also inform 250,000 supporters that Verizon promotes global warming and opposes unions, environmentalists and endangered species.
Company spokesman James Gerace says Verizon, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, was placed on the sponsors list after it paid a fee to support the community and gain access to the event to sell its products.
He says Verizon's appearance is not a statement of the company's policy on any public issue.
The Labor Day rally is intended to focus attention on the need to protect American jobs and is expected to draw at least 70,000 people.
