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COMITÉ NOVIEMBRE
( Page 7 )
MES DE LA HERENCIA
PUERTORRIQUEÑA
Editors:
Blánca Vazquez & Teresa Santiago
Typography & Design: Blánca
Vazquez
Vieques And The U.S. Military:
The Struggle Continues
Campaign For Peace And Justice
Since April 19, 1999, when a U.S. Navy FA-18 dropped two 500-lb. bombs on the island of Vieques, killing civilian David Sanes Rodríguez, Viequenses, fellow Puerto Ricans on the Island and in the US, and supporters from around the world have actively protested the Navy’s bombing of that small isle. "Ni Un Tiro Mas" has been the consigna of the struggle to end the Navy’s presence in Vieques and force a clean-up of the highly contaminated environment which sickens and prematurely ends the lives of too many Viequenses. The resumption of bombing by the Navy this summer after the forced removal of hundreds of protesters from the bombing ranges only gave greater impetus to the Vieques Campaign for Peace and Justice. This June, the Puerto Rican Day Parade was dedicated to the struggle in Vieques and thousands marched from Vieques and from all over the country to send a message of unity and protest.
Puerto Rican actress Rosie Perez
lent her name and star quality to the growing movement against the U.S. Navy’s
occupation of the island of Vieques. Perez hosted the second "Stop the
Bombs" concert at the Great Hall at Cooper Union in October. Speaking
before a young crowd for a rousing evening of hip-hop, free Vieques and Puerto
Rican nationalism slogans, Perez downplayed her fame, saying that the "Stop
the Bombs" movement should be the focus of the evening rather than her star
status. "(Latinos) come out for premieres and ticket sales," said
Perez. "We have to show up when our people are suffering." Earlier
this year, Perez was arrested in an act of civil disobedience for the Vieques
cause. Along with Perez, musicians Tony Touch, TKA, Puerto Rock, The Arsonists
and Q-Unique and performance artists The Welfare Poets lent their talents to the
Vieques cause.
Robert Wadell, www. Latino.com/October 6, 2000
Intergenerational Message From Vieques:
Viequenses Form Human Chain Around Camp García
On August 13th, approximately 1,000
Viequenses and supporters from the Big Island placed ribbons, flags and signs
saying "Peace for Vieques" on the fences and gates surrounding the US
Navy’s Camp Garcia. A human chain was formed with everyone holding hands. The
activity was organized by the Committee for the Rescue and Development of
Vieques, the Alliance of Women of Vieques and United Youth of Vieques. The
following message is from the children and families of Vieques, who ask that we
do all we can to combat the Navy’s propaganda, writing articles, attending
rallies, and contacting your elected officials to end the Navy’s harmful and
unjust presence in Vieques. For Vieques links on the web, see "Boricuas in
Cyberspace" in this Journal.
The children of Vieques want peace. We want the Navy out and we want an end to
war activities that have caused so much damage for so many years. The Navy fence
separates us from our lands, where we want to play and grow. The Navy´s fence
is like a monster that destroys our best dreams. The children of Vieques want to
see an end to the military fences. We want a Free Vieques for our parents, our
grandparents, our little brothers and sisters and for all the people of Puerto
Rico that love Vieques. Help us get this monster out of our Isla Nena (Vieques—the
Baby Island)
Vieques youth is on the march for peace in our island and in defense of our
human rights. We cannot permit the Navy to continue its practices that destroy
our land, our Vieques. The commitment of the young people to this struggle was
clearly demonstrated last month with our first organized entrance into the
restricted area. We will definitely return. And we will enter as many times as
is necessary to reclaim our right to live in peace and with dignity.
We are forced to abandon our families to study on the main island. The military
presence and their control over our lands strangle our economic development.
Therefore, after studying, we have no opportunities to work here, and are forced
to remain separated from our loved ones—our families and our Vieques.
This Navy fence is a symbol of military power that for decades has brought great
suffering to our people. This fence, with its barbed and razor wires, represents
the death of our people. Like the Berlin Wall, this fence must come down. We
young people of Vieques are prepared to participate in dismantling and taking
down this fence, which robs us of that which by natural right belongs to our
community. When the moment comes—and we know it’s not today, but it could be
tomorrow—when the moment comes to take down the fence from North to South,
Vieques youth will be present!
For more than half a century the Navy has attacked the Viequense family, forcing
our husbands to search for work in other places and our sons and daughters to
leave in order to study. They have attacked and raped our women. They have
poisoned our land, air and water. It is time to put an end to this violation. It
is time to unite the greater Viequense family and the greater family of Puerto
Rico in defense of Vieques.
The Navy fences could never stop the march of history and justice. This fence
will not halt the march of our people toward its destiny—that is to have a
Vieques Free from the Navy.
Experience is our best teacher. Those of us who have experienced the military
abuses for many years are also present at this historic moment in our struggle
for peace. We have lived decades of violations and lies, promises and trickery,
from politicians and the military who use Vieques for their purposes that in no
way contribute to the well being of our people.
We have seen many of our children, brothers and parents die of cancer and other
illnesses caused by military contamination. We say:
NO MORE BOMBS! NO MORE CANCER!
WE WANT PEACE FOR VIEQUES!
LINKS
Vieques Libre
Vieques Vive
Palfrente
Visit To A Small Island
Daoudc@aol.com
Vieques2000@hotmail.com
ViequesSupport@worldnet.att.net
TNYVieques@aol.com
(Todo Nueva
York ConVieques)
Stop The Bombs
2000
Table Of Contents
Message On Behalf Of Comité Noviembre 2000
Comité
Noviembre - Fifth Annual Gala
Gala
Foto Album (PuertoRicans.Com)
History And Mission
About The Poster
About The Artist
Sponsors
Comité Noviembre 2000 Spokesperson Dave Valentín
Celebrities
Come Out For Comité Noviembre
Celebrando Lo Mejor De Nuestra Comunidad
ASPIRA Of New York, Inc
Exceptional Puerto Rican
Youth
Comité Noviembre
Scholarship Program
Eugenio María De Hostos
Community College
Puerto
Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
Taíno: Ancient Voyagers Of The Caribbean
El Museo Del Barrio
New Boricua Books
National Congress For Puerto Rican Rights
History
Revealed: FBI Releases Files On Independence Movement
Las Carpetas: The Book
Institute For
The Puerto Rican / Hispanic Elderly
Day
Of Community Service And Social Responsibility
Vieques And The U.S. Military: The Struggle Continues
Intergenerational Message
From Vieques
In Memoriam Adelfa - Vera Puerto Rican
Nacionalista
In Memoriam - Paul Ramos Health Care
Advocate
Comité Noviembre
De New Jersey, Inc
New Jersey 2000 Honorees
Poster 2000
Poster 1992
Comité Noviembre - 1999
Copyright ©Comité Noviembre 2000 / Reprinted With
Permission
