>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > list [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >September 6, 2000 > >PRESS RELEASE: Vieques� Activists Present their Case in the >Bronx > >Bronx, NY - In a courtroom filled with anxiety, supporters >and news reporters watched how the seven Puerto Rican >activists that were arrested at Yankee Stadium on May 5th >for their synchronized entrance into the field during the >Yankees-Orioles game, presented their case at the Bronx >Criminal Court on behalf of the people of Vieques, Puerto >Rico. > >New York State assemblyman Peter Rivera, one of the >attorneys, asked the court to dismiss the criminal >trespassing charges in the interest of justice. While >referring to the motives of the action, Rivera said that >the situation in Vieques is one of �blatant human rights >violations� perpetrated by the U.S. Navy against the people >of Vieques for over 60 years. Assemblyman Rivera also >highlighted the remarkable academic records of most of the >defendants. Former federal court judge John Carro, another >defense attorney, brought attention to the precedents set >in previous civil disobedience protests in the City in >which the charges have been dismissed. > >Lead attorney Vanessa Ramos gave the closing remarks by >emphasizing that the six men and one woman who entered the >field �neither intended to hurt nor hurt anyone but that >they had only acted with a sense of the highest >patriotism.� She also detailed some of the adverse effects >that the Navy war games have had on the ecology and health >of the Viequenses. Attorneys Danny Figueroa and Hal >Meyerson, and City Councilman Jos� Rivera, were also >present in the courtroom. > >The decision by Judge Padr� on whether or not to dismiss >the charges will be read at 9:30am on October 30th at the >Bronx Criminal Court in Room AP4. > >While talking to reporters outside of the courtroom, the >defendants showed their outrage about yesterday�s bombing >of Vieques by the U.S. Navy without the required 15 days in >advance notice, in violation of the Clinton directive. >Defendant H�ctor Rosario clarified that �although what we >and the vast majority of the civilian population in Puerto >Rico want is the immediate withdrawal of the Navy from our >land, this tyrannical act only serves to show that >Viequenses have legitimate reasons to distrust the Clinton- >Rossell� agreement. We must intensify our struggle to rid >Vieques of the Navy and its genocidal practices.� > >Prior to the court appearance, Viequense leaders Bob Rabin >and Ismael Guadalupe sent messages of support for this >action. Rabin said �You will always have a very special >place in the collective heart of our Island, which is also >yours.� > >� � � > >The names of the defendants are Juan Antonio Casa�as, >Carmen Ana D�vila, Freddie Marrero, Miguel Marrero, Elliot >Monteverde, Rub�n Ortiz, and H�ctor Rosario. > >For more information contact H�ctor Rosario at 917-549-6546 >or Freddie Marrero at 212-923-0387. > >For updates and more information on the direct action at >the Yankee Stadium, including press releases, news >coverage, and letter of support from Vieques� leaders, >visit http://www.micronetix.net/virus/yankees.htm. > >For background and updated information on the Vieques� >struggle visit: http://www.viequeslibre.org/ > >Knowledge is Power! >Elimination of the exploitation of man by man >http://www.egroups.com/group/pttp/ >POWER TO THE PEOPLE! > >Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Change Delivery Options: >http://www.egroups.com/mygroups > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
