New York City – Today at noon Vieques’ activists, Stacy Toro, Mari Cruz Badía, and Hector Luis Rivera, chained themselves to the Statue of the Bull in Bowling Green. A crowd of supporters gathered to chant and to distribute information on the nature of their action and on Vieques’ struggle. The bull was decorated with Puerto Rican flags, stickers, and messages calling for U.S. Navy withdrawal from Vieques. Passersby were curious, and mostly supportive, talking to the protesters and also expressing their resentment for the Navy’s actions in Vieques.

Half an hour into the event, a dozen of policemen showed up, but were incapable of cutting the chains with their equipment and were forced to call for a special squad. After more than an hour, and with the number of police officers growing, a special task force cut the chains. They were arrested and taken to Precinct #1. They were charged with a misdemeanor and resisting arrest. Around 5pm they were transferred to Central Booking on Canal Street where they spent the night. Mari Cruz Badía and Hector Luis Rivera were released before noon the next day. Stacy Toro was finally released on Friday 12:20am, after being arrested for more than 33 hours.

Press Release - 12:25 a.m. EDT June 07, 2000

Act of Civil Disobedience at the Bull in Bowling Green, Manhattan, NY  (the Wall Street area)

In support and solidarity with all the people struggling for an end to the United States military practices in the municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico. US Navy Out of Vieques Now!

From: Welfare Poets & Sisters in the Struggle
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2000
Time: 12:30 PM
Place: Famous Statue of the Bull in Bowling Green, Manhattan, NY

At noon today, a group of Puerto Rican artists from the Welfare Poets and Sisters in the Struggle have joined in solidarity with the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, in an act of civil disobedience at the famous statue of the Bull in Bowling Green, Manhattan, NY.

We are protesting 60 years of US Military maneuvers that have caused severe environmental pollution, economic underdevelopment, and even death among its population. We are protesting the fact that despite proof that there are still viequenses in civil disobedience within the bombing range, the Navy has bombed and plans to resume bombing. These military practices are in direct violation of the United Nations Charter of Human Rights, of which the US is a signatory. In addition, US citizens should be aware that their tax dollars are being spent to do military practices on an inhabited island, dropping depleted uranium bombs near civilian population.

Puerto Rico has been a military-industrial colonial complex of the United States for over 100 years. We, as conscientious artists, stand in solidarity with the courageous people of Vieques who have been suffering cancer, unemployment, and psychological torture for too long. We demand that there be "NO MORE BOMBS IN VIEQUES!" In relation to attempts by the US Government to consult with the people of Vieques, we affirm that human rights are not ever to be put to a vote by way of a so-called referendum.

We have chained ourselves to the Bull in an overt act to call the attention of the World community over the extreme plight of the people of Vieques. In this way, we hope to exacerbate perturbation in the hearts and consciences of the American public in regards to what already is for almost 10,000 viequenses an intolerable situation. We intend to demonstrate that it is trough the funding and genocidal speculative finances of the Stock Exchange in Wall Street that the immense military bases in Puerto Rico are kept open. These bases include Roosevelt Roads, the US largest naval military facility in the Western Hemisphere.

We invite you to join this anti-war, anti-environmental destruction, and pro-human rights struggle. US Navy Out of Vieques Now!

Sincerely, 
Héctor Luis Rivera, Welfare Poets 
Stacey Toro, Sisters in the Struggle 
Mari Cruz Badía, Sisters in the Struggle