Vol.64/No.13 April 3, 2000
Puerto Ricans call April 19 march on Washington
BY PETE SEIDMAN
PHILADELPHIA--Plans are underway to send at least five buses from here to a national march on Washington April 19 demanding "U.S. Navy Out of Vieques Now." City Councilman Angel Ortiz opened a planning meeting for the event with a report on his participation in the massive February 21 demonstration of more than 80,000 people in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This action opposed the recently announced agreement between the Clinton administration and Puerto Rican governor Pedro Rosselló that allows U.S. naval-training exercises to resume on Vieques and calls for a referendum on continued U.S. bombing on the island.
About 20 activists attended the planning meeting, which was hosted by Taller Puertorriqueño, a cultural center in north Philadelphia's Puerto Rican community. Luis Sanabria, from the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War, reported that buses were being organized from New Jersey, Illinois, and Ohio for the event.
Ortiz reports that he is seeking support from the Catholic Archdiocese here to see if it will back the action, as it did February 21 in Puerto Rico. He is also contacting other churches and community organizations to speak at an upcoming City Hall news conference announcing local plans to support the national demonstration.
Front page (for this issue) |
Home |
Text-version home