The following resolution was passed at the Convention of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) held in Portland, Oregon May 1-5, 2000:
WHEREAS: THE U. S. Navy has used the island of Vieques off the coast of Puerto Rico as a military firing range; and
WHEREAS: A Puerto Rican worker was recently killed by a military shelling gone astray, arousing the anger of Puerto Rican workers; and
WHEREAS: There are a thousand Puerto Ricans protesting on the island against the U. S. militaryıs continued use of Vieques for target practice, a remnant of the Cold War; and
WHEREAS: The F. B. I. and the marines are set to invade the island to arrest and remove the demonstrators; THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED: That the ILWU 1) declares its solidarity with the Puerto Rican protestors in their just struggle, and 2) the ILWU demands that the U. S. military cease its deadly practice of using Vieques as a firing range; and BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED: That the ILWU goes on record calling for the right of independence for Puerto Rico; and BE IT FINALLY
RESOLVED: That ILWU President McWilliams communicate our position immediately to President Clinton, because of the imminent danger faced by the protestors.
