Viequense Women Re-enter the Bombing Range

On June 1, a group of Viequense Women, along with several other Vieques activists and Puerto Rican journalists, entered Navy restricted zone in defiance of Federal Authorities. The protest, in which the group placed black crucifixes in the memory of those who have died so far as cause of the Navy presence, lasted for about two hours and ended with the arrest of nearly 30 people.

Among those arrested was Nilda Medina, a grassroots community leaders, coordinator of the Camp for Peace and Justice. She vowed that they will return again in the future. Lolita Lebrón, former Political Prisoner, and Tito Kayak, environmental activist, were also arrested. Tito was the only one charged with resisting arrest and was sent to Federal Prison.

Press Release for the Event:
COMMITTEE FOR THE RESCUE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIEQUES
Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
e-mail: bieke@prdigital.net

Serious concerns for the health of their families and the high incidence of cancer in Vieques motivated a delegation of Viequense women to enter the U.S. Navy restricted zone just before dawn this morning. The group entered the bombing zone in order to paralyze the bombing practices that had been announced by the Navy in recent days. The Viequense women, accompanied by several women from the main island of Puerto Rico and men from both Vieques and the main island, denounced the threats to the health of all Viequenses that result from the detonation of explosives on the eastern part of the island.

"As Puerto Rican women, and primarily women from Vieques, our consciences do not allow us to sleep peacefully in our houses while the Isla Nena is being tortured and bombed. How can we rest when the dust that we gather today can sicken and kill our children?" stated the group's spokespersons.

"Today we are on land that belongs to the people of Puerto Rico and to our Viequense families in order to remember our Viequense sisters whose deaths we directly and indirectly blame on the activities of the U.S. Navy. The spirit of the struggle, strength and commitment of our sisters, mothers and grandmothers is within us and we cannot be silenced. We denounce the unjust, unnecessary suffering to which our people have been submitted to ever since our beaches and seas were usurped by the Navy of the United States."

"Vieques is our home and it is being attacked. We stand before the aggressor and say NO MORE ABUSE! No more violations of our rights! No more poisoned dust! No bullets -- live or inert! For once and for all -US NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES!"

"We call to all Puerto Ricans, especially to Puerto Rican women to join us in prayer, in remembrance and in peaceful protest until we gain the peace that we cherish for everyone."

Robert L. Rabin Siegal
Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424
Vieques, PR 00765