Date Created:
Place Created: Puerto Rico
Year Created: 1999
Historical Theme:
Description: The Vieques Island protests arose between 1999 and 2003 on the small Puerto Rican island of Vieques. These protests occurred against the United States Navy’s longstanding use of the island for live‑bombing exercises dating back to World War II. They ignited after an errant 500‑pound bomb dropped on April 19, 1999, killing civilian security officer David Sanes Rodríguez at a Navy range, sparking widespread outrage among island residents. Local fishermen, community leaders, and environmental activists then erected encampments within the bombing range and rallied under slogans such as “¡Ni Una Bomba Más!” (“Not One More Bomb”), blocking military exercises and drawing support from international figures and organizations. Under mounting political and legal pressure, including a special Defense Department “Rush Panel” review and appeals from President Bill Clinton and Governor Pedro Rosselló, the Navy announced an end to live‑fire training on June 14, 2001, and fully withdrew from Vieques by May 2003. The movement secured the island’s environmental and public health, galvanizing broader debates over Puerto Rico’s political status and showcasing the power of direct action in challenging military and colonial legacies.
Categories of Documents:
Puerto Rico