Vieques: An Endless Battle

Filmmaker Juan C. Dávila's insightful documentary examines a decades-long struggle by the people living on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques to regain control of the land from the federal government. The root of the problem began in 1941 when the U.S. Navy took over two-thirds of the island ahead of World War II. After the war, the Navy stayed on, using Vieques for troop training and bombing exercises. Over the years, protest percolated among locals, but Puerto Rico's government consistently sided with Washington regarding the military presence. The 1999 death of a civilian Puerto Rican security guard during a bombing mishap sparked a more aggressive campaign of civil disobedience—and several violent protests—that gained global attention. After many prominent celebrities and activists traveled to Vieques to join the protests, the federal government began to cave in and the Navy eventually withdrew in 2003. But the Navy failed to clean up much of the damage left behind (including lots of unexploded bombs), and the federal government abruptly declared much of the island a National Wildlife Sanctuary under the control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, thus denying residents access to these lands. Vieques explores how Puerto Ricans have faced second-class citizenship in their own land, while also questioning whether Puerto Rico's leaders have the best interests of the people in mind. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)