On May 1, 2003 - the same day that George Bush declared "victory" in Iraq - the U.S. Navy was forced to pull out of Vieques, Puerto Rico, as a consequence of a four-year campaign of civil disobedience that reinvigorated and united the movement.

 

After more than six decades of living under U.S. Navy bombardments, strafing and constant military exercises in their territory-and suffering the abuse of soldiers who ventured into the civilian part of the island- the people of Vieques finally celebrated the end of this violence.

 

Puerto Rican people have been subject to colonial occupation for more than 100 years. The continuing colonial domination over Puerto Rico and the maintaince of the U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo, Cuba, are grim reminders that U.S. imperialism refuses to respect the right of people to exercise sovereignty, independence and self-determination. People in the United States have a special obligation to support the ongoing struggle in Puerto Rico for the decontamination of Vieques, for reparations, and for an end to U.S. colonial domination.