To the cheers of two million spectators, Salsa superstar Marc Anthony led the long stream of floats and marchers up Fifth Avenue. Other celebrities included Miss Universe Denise Quiñones, boxing champs John Ruiz and Felix Trinidad and actor Edward James Olmos.

Growing Latino political power was on display as all of the city’s mayoral candidates attended and were joined by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles E. Schumer, Gov. George E. Pataki, Puerto Rico Gov. Sila Calderón and Vieques Mayor Dámaso Serrano.

“Vieques is not an anti-American issue,” said Local 371’s José Santos, who recently went to Vieques and participated in civil disobedience activities against the Navy. “This is a human rights issue. The bombing has to end.” Demonstrations against the military presence there escalated two years ago, after a bomb killed David Sanes, a security guard.

Local 372 marcher: Bombing destroys lives
The Navy has taken over two-thirds of the 52-square-mile island, where it conducts invasion drills, practice bombing and ship-to-shore shelling. According to marcher William Arroyo of Local 372, the maneuvers are destroying the lives of the 9,000 Vieques civilians in small towns sandwiched between the firing range and a munition storage site. He cited reports of high cancer rates and said the constant explosions have damaged the important fishing industry.

Local 372 Recording Secretary Milagros Rodríguez said a student from Vieques at school “told me her family wakes up in the middle of the night from the bombings, and she had nightmares. This problem affects people psychologically.”

DC 37 has a long-term commitment to peace in Vieques. The Executive Board voted 20 years ago to demand ouster of the Navy, said José Sierra, vice chair of the DC 37 Latino Heritage Committee. He and Committee Chair Magda De Jesus organized the union’s participation in the parade.

At a New York City Central Labor Council press conference on June 8, DC 37 Deputy Administrator Zachary Ramsey said, “The bombing must end right now!” He pointed out that AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee introduced the “Viva Vieques” resolution that passed unanimously at last year’s AFL-CIO convention.

Shortly after the parade, President George W. Bush said the Navy would leave Vieques by 2003, but the delay proved unacceptable to many people, and the protests continued.

“We can’t wait until more people die,” said Mr. Arroyo.