RedCeltic
12th June 2002, 06:15
Stand with Vieques, now more than ever
By Berta Joubert-Ceci
and Teresa Gutierrez
For over 100 years the people of Puerto Rico, the last colony of the United States, have been struggling for self-determination. Today the Puerto Rican people continue to wage this long-standing heroic battle for the right to determine their own fate.
They have fought against brutal repression, intense economic exploitation and all forms of racist domination. For decades, the Puerto Rican people have inspired people around the world and have been in the forefront of every major Latino struggle in the U.S.
The Puerto Rican people's defense of their beloved flag, their land, their culture and their people has always set a revolutionary example, especially for other Latinos internally colonized within U.S. borders.
Today one particular struggle of Puerto Ricans inspires not only Latinos in the U.S. but oppressed people everywhere. That is the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of the tiny, beautiful island of Vieques, just off the Big Island of Puerto Rico. This battle has raged for over six decades, but never more fiercely than in the last three years.
And whether that struggle is up or down, it has won the hearts and minds of many. From Korea to Palestine and throughout Latin America, people of all nationalities and walks of life have joined in solidarity with the people of Vieques.
An errant bomb killed David Sanes, a civilian worker on the U.S. Navy base, during military exercises in April 1999. His death, one of many over the long years of occupation, ignited an explosion of outrage.
Immediately after Sanes' murder, thousands carried out various forms of struggle. Protests, civil disobedience, forums, cultural events and more flourished in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Indeed, solidarity was shown to Vieques around the world.
Camp Garcia has been the scene of many demonstrations right in front of the U.S. Navy. Banners from around the world can be seen flying proudly in solidarity with the people of Vieques.
During protests at Camp Garcia, U.S. Navy personnel have pepper-sprayed protestors indiscriminately, including children and elders. According to Amnesty International, the Navy has used large quantities of chemicals and pepper spray. Prisoners are handcuffed and made to kneel on the ground for hours in the hot sun.
In May, Republican Rep. Robin Hayes from New Hampshire said "Vieques Island is the best place for the Navy to conduct its training. We bought it. We paid for it."
Now more than ever, solidarity with Vieques and all of Puerto Rico should be placed high on the agenda of the anti-war and solidarity movement.
- END -
Reprinted from the June 13, 2002, issue of Workers World newspaper
(Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [email protected] Subscribe [email protected] Unsubscribe [email protected] Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
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By Berta Joubert-Ceci
and Teresa Gutierrez
For over 100 years the people of Puerto Rico, the last colony of the United States, have been struggling for self-determination. Today the Puerto Rican people continue to wage this long-standing heroic battle for the right to determine their own fate.
They have fought against brutal repression, intense economic exploitation and all forms of racist domination. For decades, the Puerto Rican people have inspired people around the world and have been in the forefront of every major Latino struggle in the U.S.
The Puerto Rican people's defense of their beloved flag, their land, their culture and their people has always set a revolutionary example, especially for other Latinos internally colonized within U.S. borders.
Today one particular struggle of Puerto Ricans inspires not only Latinos in the U.S. but oppressed people everywhere. That is the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of the tiny, beautiful island of Vieques, just off the Big Island of Puerto Rico. This battle has raged for over six decades, but never more fiercely than in the last three years.
And whether that struggle is up or down, it has won the hearts and minds of many. From Korea to Palestine and throughout Latin America, people of all nationalities and walks of life have joined in solidarity with the people of Vieques.
An errant bomb killed David Sanes, a civilian worker on the U.S. Navy base, during military exercises in April 1999. His death, one of many over the long years of occupation, ignited an explosion of outrage.
Immediately after Sanes' murder, thousands carried out various forms of struggle. Protests, civil disobedience, forums, cultural events and more flourished in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Indeed, solidarity was shown to Vieques around the world.
Camp Garcia has been the scene of many demonstrations right in front of the U.S. Navy. Banners from around the world can be seen flying proudly in solidarity with the people of Vieques.
During protests at Camp Garcia, U.S. Navy personnel have pepper-sprayed protestors indiscriminately, including children and elders. According to Amnesty International, the Navy has used large quantities of chemicals and pepper spray. Prisoners are handcuffed and made to kneel on the ground for hours in the hot sun.
In May, Republican Rep. Robin Hayes from New Hampshire said "Vieques Island is the best place for the Navy to conduct its training. We bought it. We paid for it."
Now more than ever, solidarity with Vieques and all of Puerto Rico should be placed high on the agenda of the anti-war and solidarity movement.
- END -
Reprinted from the June 13, 2002, issue of Workers World newspaper
(Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [email protected] Subscribe [email protected] Unsubscribe [email protected] Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME | NEWS | SEARCH | SUBSCRIBE | WWP | SUPPORT