A Navy destroyer, one of twelve warships in the military exercises scheduled to last for 23 days, began strafing the Vieques bombing range with five-inch practice shells early in the morning of September 25, while jet fighters fired 500-pound and 25-pound inert bombs at ground targets, according to Navy officials.

Organizations involved in the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of the island called a moratorium on civil disobedience actions following the September 11 events. They are planning a town meeting September 26 to discuss future actions, including a call for a general strike in Vieques October 4. A small demonstration was held in front of the main gate of the naval base the day before.

Some groups have pointed to the tight security at the navy base as a reason for holding off on civil disobedience actions, but have said that they plan to enter the restricted areas anyway. The Puerto Rican daily El Vocero said that so far not one protester has ventured onto the shooting range. Police said September 23 that some 60 feet of the wire fence around the base had been cut up.

Carlos Zenón, a leader of the island's fishermen, told El Nuevo Día September 25 that his organization is evaluating whether to enter the firing range or not since the "so-called moratorium" on civil disobedience included a request to U.S. Navy officials to halt the bombings. "We cannot call for a moratorium when the Navy has a free hand to continue preparing to carry out the barbaric acts, such as the ones they carry out in wars," said Zenón.

According to the Daily News, the battle group was expected to be deployed to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf regions to be part of the U.S. military campaign against Afghanistan.

The general strike announced for October 4 has already received the support of the electrical and water workers unions, and of some local businesses in addition to other organizations in Vieques. A march from the center of Vieques to the gates of Camp García at the naval base is being organized to take place at the end of the strike.

Robert Rabin, spokesperson for the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, said in El Nuevo Día that the strike was to highlight the concerns of the people of Vieques about the military maneuvers.

He said the Navy maneuvers represent a continuing violation of the will of the people, as expressed in a referendum last July 29. In the vote, organized by the local government, residents of Vieques registered by a 68 percent majority their desire for the U.S. Navy to leave the island immediately.  
 
 
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