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Vieques celebration turns to chaos
Vieques Libre! Ooooops, so's my job at Roosevelt Roads!What began as a peaceful celebration of the official closing of the U.S. Navy target range quickly turned violent as protesters tore, destroyed, and set fire to everything in their path. In a matter of minutes, the mob tore down the metal fence, destroyed the concrete structure that served as U.S. Camp Garciaâs entrance, and set fire to three military vehicles. What's a good lefty celebration without a riot! Chaos took over the scene and neither Gov. Sila Calderon nor Police Superintendent Victor Rivera were able to control it. Riveraâs decision to drastically cut police presence in Vieques for the closing of the target range could have played against him as the less than 100 agents present at the site were not enough to handle the over 800 demonstrators. The chief of police blamed organizers for allowing alcohol consumption at the site as some of the most violent offenders were visibly drunk. Yeah, it was the booze. It always is. Rivera tried three times to send in his riot squad but was forced to retrieve them. Some riot squad. Let's send the Oakland PD down to show them how it's done. Calderon, who arrived at the site one hour behind schedule, took the microphone to say that those who were acting with violence were not representatives of the Vieques cause. âThis has been a struggle of peace not of violence,â Calderon said. Calderon, who was invited to participate in an ecumenical service to commemorate the end of military practices in the target range, was quickly rushed away from the site after the insults by the crowd against her grew louder. By the time Calderon spoke, 1:30 a.m., things had already gotten out of hand. "The crowd's revolting! Yes, and it's ugly, too!" In fact, signs of possible turmoil were evident at 11 p.m. when anti-Navy leaders, lead by Ismael Guadalupe, walked toward Camp Garciaâs main gate to place a banner across it. âThis gate will only be opened by the people who struggle for it,â read the banner. Yeah, it was the booze... Guadalupe and the leaders who have maintained the anti-Navy movement in Vieques for decades and more intensely since the accidental killing of civilian guard David Sanes argued that it was up to them to enter the site first. They noted that the gates would be open Thursday morning when more people who had been arrested for trespassing arrived on the island. Municipal employees and organizers of the main event thought otherwise Adios, amigos... Posted by: tu3031 2003-05-02 |
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