Amir Guadalupe, 2, reacts to President Clinton's Dec. 3rd decision that bombing may resume in Vieques in March, by throwing a rock at the military guard post of Camp Garcia, the US Navy' main entry point to the Live Impact Area (LIA). Ten civil disobedience camps have been set up in the LIA, and more are expected. Another civil disobedience camp was set up in front of the gates of Camp Garcia, minutes after Amir (who is holding the Puerto Rican flag) reacted in righteous indignation to the news of Clinton's plan.
Children in Vieques, as evidenced in their conversations, drawings, and plays, are very much aware from early age of the fact that the US Navy has their land under siege. They live it through the constant noise caused by the bombings, the poverty and unemployment suffered by their families, the dwindling tourism and fishing industries caused by the Navy's use and abuse of 75% of Vieques, and the Navy's disregard towards the well-being of Vieques. They live it through the pain and suffering of the abnormally high cancer rates of their relatives and neighbors and, in many cases, of their own illnesses as a result of the chemicals and toxics dumped by the Navy in the water they drink, in the air they breathe, poisoning the food they eat.
Faced with this onslaught of abuse, civil disobedience and peaceful resistance is more than understandable. It is the least one can do to defend and rescue one's land.