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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the June 14, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
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EDITORIAL: U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES
Since David Sanes was killed by U.S. bombs in Vieques in
April 1999, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have
taken to the streets. Hundreds of elected officials,
political activists, actors, entertainers and other well-
known personalities have challenged the U.S. Navy's
occupation and continued bombing of the small island off
Puerto Rico. Even the governor of Puerto Rico has called for
the bombing to stop immediately.
The growing support has been mostly from the Puerto Rican
and Latino community, but the participation of Puerto Ricans
within the U.S. has won additional backing from human-
rights, civil-rights and anti-war activists. Most notably,
the African American community has come out in support,
symbolized by Rev. Al Sharpton's civil disobedience, the 90-
day sentence inflicted on him, and his hunger strike in
prison. Palestinians in the Right to Return committee are
mobilizing for the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade
But so far, except for some cosmetic concessions that
include a proposal for a plebiscite on the bombing that is
itself confusing and controversial in Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Navy has given nothing. The Pentagon has displayed its usual
arrogance. The military and police have arrested the
protesters, beaten some of them, and gotten the courts to
inflict sentences from 20 days to four months in federal
prison.
The Navy has even scheduled a new round of bombing exercises
on Vieques for 18 days beginning June 13.
This arrogant step is a challenge to the Vieques support
movement that must be answered. And it comes just three days
after the June 10 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City,
the home of the largest Puerto Rican community in the United
States.
With this in mind, it is vital that the progressive movement
in the United States give full support to organizations
within the Puerto Rican community that intend to raise the
issue of Vieques in the parade. The Vieques Support Campaign
and the group Pro-Libertad have plans to keep this vital
issue before the million Puerto Ricans who want the U.S.
Navy to stop bombing.
The authorities in New York are doing their utmost to keep
"politics"--but not politicians--out of the parade. They are
interfering with the ability of the Puerto Rican community
to join march contingents.
Unfortunately, the parade's organizers, under pressure, have
tried to suppress the political character of the event,
claiming that last year's parade already handled the Vieques
theme.
The Vieques issue is a living struggle. It has won much
support, but it has yet to win the complete stopping of the
Navy bombing--not to mention the cleanup of the island,
compensation for the island's residents, and freedom for
those who have stood up and are now in prison.
The Puerto Rican community in the United States can play a
leading role in bringing this struggle before the people and
rescuing Vieques from the terrible damage inflicted by the
U.S. Navy.
Let the Vieques Support Campaign and Pro-Libertad get out
their message in the parade.
Free the Vieques political prisoners.
U.S. Navy out of Vieques.
Free Puerto Rico.
- END -
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