PRESS RELEASE

PROTEST/PEACEFUL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IN PHILADELPHIA

In solidarity with the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, the people arrested there on May 4, 2000, and on behalf of the children who inhabit the island, the Puerto Rican/Latino community from New Jersey and Pennsylvania will hold a peaceful demonstration on Friday, May 5, 2000 at 5:00P.M. at Broad and Cherry Streets. Our Puerto Rican children in Vieques need a place to live and play. They have the same rights as North American children to grow up in a healthy and safe environment, free from the dangers imposed by the USA Navy in Vieques, PR. No State of this nation would allow such a health hazard in their back-yard. No American living in the United States of America, with the awareness that we have, would allow the lives of their children to be exposed to dangers of contamination, bombings, and to live amist an ecological disaster. The United States of America and their Armed Forces have intervened in the safety of children from around the world such as Russia, Kosovo and Vietnam, bringing to this country hundreds of children and providing safety for a healthier future. Yet they disregard the lives of our children in Vieques by perpetuating a constant war. We will not stand with our arms crossed, nor will we rest until the US Navy is out of Vieques. The issue here is the violation of human rights and the disregard of human lives. The Puerto Ricans will continue to protest in solidarity until the consciousness of the entire world echoes our voices and the Navy is out of Vieques. Today,according to our sources in Puerto Rico: The arrests happened this morning, 5/4/00, at the 15 civil disobedience camps on Vieques, starting at 5:15 a.m. local time. More than 300 people were arrested, among them: Protest leaders Ismael Guadalupe and sons, Carlos Zenon and sons, Carlos Ventura, Robert Rabin and Nilda Medina , US Rep. Luis Gutierrez, US Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Catholic Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, Methodist Bishop Juan Viera, the president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Ruben Berrios Martinez, the Vice President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Fernando Martin, Island Senators of the Commonwealth Party Velda Gonzalez, Carlos Vizcarrondo, Antonio Fas Alzamora, the mayors of two island municipalities, more than 20 Catholics religious persons, more than 30 Protestant Church leaders, and more than 20 fishermen. The People of the Island of Vieques and Puerto Rico, and around the USA have started demonstrating pacifically, and we will do the same he, in Philadelphia. We are proud of our people, they have given us a lesson in peaceful civil disobedience.