U.S. federal agents arrived in helicopters at dawn to remove demonstrators camped out in protest of a U.S. Navy bombing range off the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. For the past year, the presence of the protesters has prevented use of the range.
Demonstrators say the island and nearby sea floor are littered with live ordnance.
They blame the bombing practice for 50 civilian deaths and injuries since 1941. Vieques protesters say the bombing is devastating marine life and preventing the peaceful development of their island. Federal agents turned off the microwave equipment of local television stations and donned riot gear to remove fishermen, priests and nuns camped out in the U.S. target range and a key protest area next to the target range. New York City councilman Jose Rivera, New York state legislator Roberto Ramirez, and U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez, a New York Democrat, were taken away from the protest encampments by federal agents. Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez campaigning in his home state.