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THE BATTLE FOR VIEQUES History in the Making: Sila Calderón, the Vieques 4 and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade by Judith Escalona New York City was the reluctant host to a series of remarkable events unfolding between Puerto Rico and the United States, beginning with the transfer of the Vieques 4 to a federal jail in Brooklyn and culminating, ironically and not without a touch of the surreal, in the celebration of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. With the growing awareness of naval abuses in Vieques, the de-colonization hearings at the United Nations and the city´s mayoral race in which two Puerto Ricans are vying for each of their opposing parties´ nominations, we are witnessing history in the making. Full Article >>		Photo Credit: "Vieques...un largometraje" by William Nemcik Does Lolita Lebron embody Puerto Rico's political freedom? Should Puerto Rican naval and marine personnel continue to be used in capturing and detaining protesters? Vieques Updates Post your announcements and upcoming events here.
You'll need QuickTime 5 to view videos. Get it for free here.
PUERTO RICAN GOVERNOR IN NYC Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Maria Calderón was Grand Marshall of this year´s National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Calderón celebrates the "Puerto Rican spirit" in her speech at New York City´s Mariott Marquis Hotel just hours before the parade. Video 1: S ila Arrives \| Video 2: Sila Speaks
UNION BEHIND VIEQUES IN PARADE MARCH President of Health and Hospital Workers Union 1199 Dennis Rivera was up early Sunday morning preparing for the PR Parade along with union volunteers. They marched for "Peace in Vieques." Video 1: 1199 Supports Peace \| Video 2: Bombs Damage Health
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS JOINS THE PARADE FOR PEACE IN VIEQUES Olmos gives his reasons for coming to march in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in support of Vieques. Video 1: Olmos Recognizes Puerto Rican Contributions to US
PUERTO RICAN SENATOR FELT "MORALLY RAPED" BY THE NAVY Senator Velda Gonzalez, who is also Vice-President of the Puerto Rican Senate, felt "morally raped" by the Navy when she was captured in Camp Garcia this past Spring. She shares some insights into the current government´s actions in support of Vieques and a bit of contemporary history, Lastly, she describes how the U.S. Navy roughed up U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez and manhandled the Puerto Rican women it held captive. Video 1: Body Search \| Video 2: Congressman Beaten \| Video 3: Courts Biased Against Protesters
A NORMAL LIFE UNDER FIRE Vieques resident Carmen Valencia grew up fearing sailors on the prowl. She describes trying to live a normal life under fire for over thirty years. A member of Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses, Carmen regularly helps the sick of the island and recently served as their human shield. Video 1: Living Under Fire \| Video 2: Girls Get Cancer \| Video 3: How To Help
STUDENTS ACT AS HUMAN SHIELDS IN DEFENSE OF VIEQUES College student Ramon Segarra Berrios spent part of his Spring semester in Camp Garcia with fellow students and professor. Not your usual field trip, the Vieques target range, nevertheless, offered some timely lessons to guide all those expecting to serve as human shields in the future. View some actual navy footage of men and women taken into captivity. Video 1: Captured \| Video 2: Students Body-Searched \| Video 3: Physical Abuse \| Video 4: Captives Maced

Luis Nieves Falcon US CONDEMNED FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN VIEQUES

Coordinator of the Comité Pro Derechos Humanos in Puerto Rico Luis Nieves Falcon puts the Vieques struggle within the context of the international human rights movement. This past November, the Second International Tribunal on Human Rights Violations in Puerto Rico and Vieques by the United States was held in Isabel Segunda, Vieques. According to Nieves, the situation in Vieques and Puerto Rico has worsened since the first tribunal in Barcelona, Spain ten years ago. See a summary of the first tribunal´s findings. He gives a little background into the tribunals and the "internationalization" of the Vieques cause, citing health and environmental damages and nuclear ban treaty violations.

See the Videos >>

THE BATTLE FOR VIEQUES History in the Making: Sila Calderón, the Vieques 4 and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade by Judith Escalona New York City was the reluctant host to a series of remarkable events unfolding between Puerto Rico and the United States, beginning with the transfer of the Vieques 4 to a federal jail in Brooklyn and culminating, ironically and not without a touch of the surreal, in the celebration of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. With the growing awareness of naval abuses in Vieques, the de-colonization hearings at the United Nations and the city´s mayoral race in which two Puerto Ricans are vying for each of their opposing parties´ nominations, we are witnessing history in the making. Full Article >>		Photo Credit: "Vieques...un largometraje" by William Nemcik Does Lolita Lebron embody Puerto Rico's political freedom? Should Puerto Rican naval and marine personnel continue to be used in capturing and detaining protesters? Vieques Updates Post your announcements and upcoming events here.
You'll need QuickTime 5 to view videos. Get it for free here.
PUERTO RICAN GOVERNOR IN NYC Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Maria Calderón was Grand Marshall of this year´s National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Calderón celebrates the "Puerto Rican spirit" in her speech at New York City´s Mariott Marquis Hotel just hours before the parade. Video 1: S ila Arrives \| Video 2: Sila Speaks
UNION BEHIND VIEQUES IN PARADE MARCH President of Health and Hospital Workers Union 1199 Dennis Rivera was up early Sunday morning preparing for the PR Parade along with union volunteers. They marched for "Peace in Vieques." Video 1: 1199 Supports Peace \| Video 2: Bombs Damage Health
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS JOINS THE PARADE FOR PEACE IN VIEQUES Olmos gives his reasons for coming to march in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in support of Vieques. Video 1: Olmos Recognizes Puerto Rican Contributions to US
PUERTO RICAN SENATOR FELT "MORALLY RAPED" BY THE NAVY Senator Velda Gonzalez, who is also Vice-President of the Puerto Rican Senate, felt "morally raped" by the Navy when she was captured in Camp Garcia this past Spring. She shares some insights into the current government´s actions in support of Vieques and a bit of contemporary history, Lastly, she describes how the U.S. Navy roughed up U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez and manhandled the Puerto Rican women it held captive. Video 1: Body Search \| Video 2: Congressman Beaten \| Video 3: Courts Biased Against Protesters
A NORMAL LIFE UNDER FIRE Vieques resident Carmen Valencia grew up fearing sailors on the prowl. She describes trying to live a normal life under fire for over thirty years. A member of Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses, Carmen regularly helps the sick of the island and recently served as their human shield. Video 1: Living Under Fire \| Video 2: Girls Get Cancer \| Video 3: How To Help
STUDENTS ACT AS HUMAN SHIELDS IN DEFENSE OF VIEQUES College student Ramon Segarra Berrios spent part of his Spring semester in Camp Garcia with fellow students and professor. Not your usual field trip, the Vieques target range, nevertheless, offered some timely lessons to guide all those expecting to serve as human shields in the future. View some actual navy footage of men and women taken into captivity. Video 1: Captured \| Video 2: Students Body-Searched \| Video 3: Physical Abuse \| Video 4: Captives Maced