John Kennedy describes the deadly repercussions of severe conflicting political interests and struggle for power within UMW ranks, leading to the murder of Jock Yablonski and his family in 1969. Yablonski had opposed Tony Boyle’s re-election as Union President and lost, but retained his seat on the Board and was still considered a threat. Kennedy also delineates the investigation of the crime and its connection to East Tennessee via Middlesboro, Ky. For more information on John Kennedy’s involvement with the East Tennessee Research Corporation (ETRC) and work related to black lung, follow this link for footage of the full-length interview.
Recorded June 2018.