What is the story of Karen Silkwood?

On November 13, 1974, 28-year-old Karen Silkwood is killed in a car accident near Crescent, Oklahoma, north of Oklahoma City. Silkwood worked as a technician at a plutonium plant operated by the Kerr-McGee Corporation, and she had been critical of the plant’s health and safety procedures.

Was Karen Silkwood a whistleblower?

On Nov. 13, 1974, one of the most famous whistleblowers of all time was killed in what is now believed a company-supported murder when she died in a car accident after exposing wrongdoing at a plutonium plant where she worked.

How contaminated was Karen Silkwood?

An Oklahoma State Trooper who investigated the accident reported that Silkwood’s death was a result of a classic, one-car sleeping-driver accident. Later, blood tests performed as part of the autopsy showed Silkwood had 0.35 milligrams of methaqualone (Quaalude) per 100 milliliters of blood at the time of her death.

How old is Karen Silkwood?

28 years (1946–1974)Karen Silkwood / Age at death

What was Karen Silkwood doing when she was murdered?

Karen had just left town and was driving on Highway 74. About five minutes into her drive, her car ran off the road and hit a culvert. She died instantly. David Burnham had waited a couple hours for Karen, but she never showed.

Why did Karen Silkwood lose custody of her children?

Karen’s father, bitterly against the marriage, was so disappointed in his daughter that their relationship remained strained for the rest of her tragic life. Bill Meadows offered Karen an uncontested divorce if she would agree to give him custody of their children, Beverly (Kristi), Michael, and Dawn.

Why is it called a Silkwood shower?

Four times in the film, characters working at a nuclear facility suffer radiation exposure, set off an alarm, and are subjected to the brutal decontamination process, aka a ‘Silkwood shower.

Why did Karen Silkwood not have custody of her kids?

Karen’s father, bitterly against the marriage, was so disappointed in his daughter that their relationship remained strained for the rest of her tragic life. Bill Meadows offered Karen an uncontested divorce if she would agree to give him custody of their children, Beverly (Kristi), Michael, and Dawn. She refused.

What does Silkwood shower mean?

What happened Kerr-McGee?

Kerr-McGee shareholders approved the offer on August 10, 2006, and Kerr-McGee ceased to exist as an independent entity. All operations with the exception of Tronox which was spun off as a separate company in 2005 moved out of Oklahoma.

What is a Karen Silkwood shower?

Are Cher and Meryl friends?

“Meryl just came up, threw her arms around me and said, ‘I’m so glad you’re here,’” Cher remembers. “She’s all communication and warmth and friendship, with a great sense of humor.” Those qualities, which both women share, became the building blocks of a sweet friendship that has endured for nearly four decades.