Navy-Vieques protests

The Navy-Vieques protests is the name given by English-speaking media to a series of protests starting in 1999 on the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques, against the United States Navy and Marine Corps (USMC) use of the island for bombing target practices. The protests led to the U.S. military abandoning of its facilities on the island.

History

The death of David Sanes, protests begin

See also: David Sanes.

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In April 19, 1999 Vieques native David Sanes was killed by a bomb dropped by a USMC jet during bombing target practices. A civilian employee of the Navy, Sanes was on duty at a military observation point when two bombs fell 1.5 miles (2.5 km) away from their designated target. One of them fell 30 feet (10 m) away from Sanes, killing him instantly.

Related Topics:
April 19 - 1999

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After the tragic event, Puerto Ricans from all over the world started protesting against the target practices. Their most common protest act was practicing civil disobedience by illegally introducing themselves to the practice grounds; some of them camped there.

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Encampments are set, the protests gain an international renown

A few months later, small wood structures were erected inside the practice grounds, and encampments from all over the island-municipality started to gain renown.

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By that time, the protests started to gain international renown too, and people from all over the world joined the struggle. Many celebrities, including the political leader Ruben Berrios, singers Danny Rivera and Ricky Martin, boxer Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Mexican actor Edward James Olmos and Guatemala's Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu supported the cause. Pope John Paul II once said that he wanted peace for Vieques. The Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, was heavily involved in the protests that took place in the municipality. He managed to put together a coalition of different Puerto Rican church leaders that gathered international attention.

Related Topics:
Ruben Berrios - Danny Rivera - Ricky Martin - Félix 'Tito' Trinidad - Edward James Olmos - Rigoberta Menchu - Pope John Paul II - Archbishop of San Juan - Roberto González Nieves

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Massive entrance to practice grounds

In May 4, 2000 civil disobedience encampments inside the practice grounds were evacuated by U.S. Marshals and Marines.

Related Topics:
May 4 - 2000 - U.S. Marshals - Marines

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Five days later, in an internationally covered event, hundreds of protesters and supporters from all over the world and with different ideologies, penetrated into the military practice grounds.

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Natives of Vieques, many Puerto Ricans, Hollywood celebrities, priests, reverends, friars, athletes, and politicians (including U.S. Representatives) were among them.

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The incursion had been well publicized and resulted in the arrest of the protesters by Marshals, as both sides of the struggle wanted to avoid brushes with the military.

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With peace as main cause of the protests, all civil disobedients behaved in a peaceful manner upon their arrest; most of them shouting "Paz para Vieques" (or "Peace for Vieques" in English). Others simply sang themes related to peace or religion. Only a very few had to be carried by U.S. officials, as they sat or lied down, and didn't move after being ordered to leave the practice grounds; although they didn't offer physical resistance nor insulted the officials. As recorded televisely, most of the disobedients were handcuffed loosely to not pressure their wrists, but allegely their handcuffs were later tightened when escorted to jail.

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Many disobedients were set free a few hours after being put in jail, others were released a few days later, and only a few of them were imposed to sentences that lasted between one to six months. The official charge was trespassing U.S. military territory.

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Unfair treatment?

Some imprisoned disobedients, including U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez, announced an unfair treatment to them. This was denied by U.S. military officials and is still a questionable allegation for many Puerto Ricans up to this date.

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A video of a body inspection done to a female disobedient, in which her breasts were inspected rigorously by a Military Police (MP) soldier, was passed through television news. Many protested against this formal military procedure, as they said they were imprisoned for actions in favor of peace. This time, the military alleged that these specific individuals behaved in a hostile manner while imprisoned. The allegation is still questionable up to this date for many imprisoned disobedients.

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Incursions continue, protests come to an end

With the continuation of bombing practices by the U.S. Navy, incursions to the practice grounds continued, until an official announce by the U.S. government stating that the military would be leaving the island on May of 2003. The supporters of the Cause of Vieques rejoiced their triumph won by peace.

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