Bust of Ángel Rodríguez Cristóbal
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Ángel Rodríguez Cristóbal
1946-1979
“When you fight for something just, there is nothing to
fear.”
Ángel Rodríguez Cristóbal was born April 2, 1946 in
Ciales, Puerto Rico. At the age of
18, he enlisted in the United States Army. During his three year tour
of active duty he realized injustices were being committed against the
people of Vietnam.
Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he became involved in
agriculture in the town of Pozas
de Ciales and began to participate in the local
social and political movements. In 1972, he joined the Puerto Rican
Independent Party, and in 1974 he joined the Puerto Rican Socialist
League. In 1978, his militancy led him to join the Viequense fishermen
in their fight against the presence of the United States Navy in
Vieques.
On May 19, 1979, Ángel Rodríguez Cristóbal was arrested,
along with twenty other protestors, during an act of religious civil
disobedience on a beach in Navy occupied land. A federal judge
sentenced him to serve six months in a prison in Tallahassee, Florida.
On November 11, 1979, he was murdered in his prison cell.
Hero and martyr, tireless fighter for his homeland.
…Upon his assassination, he enters the pantheon of the
immortals whose deaths defines a piece of Puerto Rican history.
-Juan Antonio Corrertjer.
Translated from the original Spanish on statue.
Photo on the left taken by Kristen Orzolek.
Photo on the right from: http://www.verdadyjusticia.org/casos/rodriguez_cristobal/datos_arc.html
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The Sugar Central of Esperanza
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 Sugar plantations have played a major role in the history
of Vieques. At the beginning of the twentieth century sugar
plantations covered close to 75 percent of the island and employed a
large portion of the local population.
By the 1920s the four major sugar corporations had decreased
to three: the Esperanza, Playa Grande and Central de Vieques.
These three had claim to approximately 71 percent of the land, leaving
thousands of citizens landless. The sugar industry on Vieques
collapsed in the 1940s due to the expropriations of land by the
military.
Currently, the ruins of the Sugar Central of Esperanza are a
tranquil scene of brick and vine that lies directly off the main road.
Photo taken by: Kristen Orzolek.
Information from: Military Power and Popular Protest: The
U.S. Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico; written by Katherine McCaffrey.
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Natural Reserve (Sun Bay, Media Luna, Navio)
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 Sun Bay,
Media Luna, and Navio are three of Vieques’ most beautiful public
beaches which are controlled by the Department of Natural Resources and
the Municipal government's Department of Sports and Recreation.
Photo: http://www.vieques-island.com/gallery/SunBayOct1804/html/6Scenery1.htm
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Puerto Ferro Archeological Site
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 The Puerto Ferro archeological site is one of the
most important landmarks in Viequense history. In 1990, archeologists
from the Center for Archeological Investigation at the University of
Puerto Rico discovered the 4,000 year old skeletal remains of a Puerto
Ferro man. This man, who is thought to have been between 35 and 40
years old at the time of his death, was buried in the fetal position,
proving that these ancient people put religious thought into the burial
process. The site has since been excavated to find many other artifacts
dating back to the same time period, including stone and shell tools as
well as the remains of food eaten by this ancient group of people.
Situated among towering trees, the skeletal
remains were found near the largest of many grano-dioritic boulders
situated in a small clearing. The archeological site overlooks Mosquito Bay, as well as a beautiful
wilderness area. This is the site of the earliest know inhabitance of
Vieques and is of great cultural, spiritual and historical significance
to many Viequenses.
Photo taken by Kristen Orzolek.
Information from: http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Vieques_HTML/Puerto_Ferro_Man.htm.
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 One of the best preserved bioluminescent bays in the world
is located on Vieques.
This body of water, Mosquito bay, contains tiny microorganisms
called dinoflagellates that emit sparkles of light when
disturbed. At night the water glows brilliantly with every
movement.
Historically, this bay has been an important place for
fishermen. It provides a safe area for fishing boats during tropical
storms, and also serves as a very important breeding ground for many
species of fish.
 As one of Vieques’s most popular
tourist sites, the bay is threatened by overdevelopment and water
pollution. To enjoy this natural beauty and prevent further water
pollution and other impacts on the fragile ecosystem, take a guided
tour by electric boat or kayak.
Top left photo from: http://stjohnbeachguide.com/Vieques_HTML/Bioluminescent_Bay.htm.
Bottom photo from: http://www.biobay.org/mission.htm.
Information from conversation with: Abe Velasquez, Sr.
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 Prior to the Navy’s occupation of Vieques, the
island’s economy was based primarily on agriculture. Between the
sugar plantations and other farms, the agricultural sector was so
prosperous that additional labor was brought in from neighboring
islands. This all changed when the Navy arrived, forcing many
people to move off their land onto smaller plots in the center of the
island. Since farmers no longer had access to land for farming,
agriculture began to diminish.
Within the past few years, since the navy has left, a few
attempts have been made to restore the agricultural traditions of the
island. Currently, there is one large commercial scale
farm. Situated on 30 acres of land, this agricultural project has
been primarily focused on the sale of ornamental plants and palm
trees. Recently, though, cultivation of eggplant, pineapple,
sweet peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables has begun to
expand. The produce can be bought on mainland Puerto Rico, at local markets as well as
directly from the farm, where customers are able to pick what they want
directly from the field. Some local restaurants also rely on this
supply of fresh, island-grown produce.
Although there is only one agricultural project on Vieques at
the present, plans are  being made to
re-open a government-funded hydroponics project by August 2006.
This community based, cooperatively run project will focus on
cultivating tomatoes as well as a variety of herbs that are used to
make Sofrito, a traditional Puerto Rican mix of culinary herbs and
spices. This project will help supply local supermarkets and will
also include an on-site store where customers can buy fresh, locally
grown produce.
Both pictures taken by Carrie Williams.
Information from conversations with Nilda Medina.
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Luisa Guadalupe, lived through the turbulent changes
that the US Navy brought to the island of Vieques,
from the forced expropriation in the early 1940s through the six
decades of bombing that followed. In the early 1940s, she was told by
the Navy that she had ten days to leave her property for a compensation
of $50. Known for her resilient efforts to pressure the Navy to leave
Vieques, Guadalupe inspired many to follow her example of civil
disobedience.
The Luisa Guadalupe Camp, established in 2000, was named in
her honor. It was a focal point for organizing civil disobedience
actions and protests against the Navy. It was set up in response
to the Navy’s attempts to open a new gateway for access into Camp Garcia. Today, the camp
still stands and is a memorial for those who have actively participated
in the fight for the freedom of Vieques.
“We would rather die before surrendering our homes to the
intruders. This is something we have demonstrated to the U.S. Navy ever
since they began to push us out when they first arrived in the
1940s. They have disrupted our lives, they have driven us to a
tiny part of this island, they have made us sick with their
contamination of the air, water and soil. But this time, Viequenses
will make a final stance, if necessary, no matter what the odds against
us are."
-Luisa Guadalupe
Quote from: http://www.workers.org/ww/1999/vieques0513.php
Top photo from: http://www.yachana.org/reports/vieques/photos/guadalupe.html
Bottom photo from: http://www.yachana.org/reports/vieques/photos/campguadalupe.html.
Information from conversation with: Ismael Guadalupe and
Orlando Hernández.
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Peace and Justice Camp & Plaza
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Established in November of 1999, the Peace
and Justice Camp
was vital to the organization and struggle of Viequenses against the
Navy’s
occupation of the island. The camp was essential in the
organization of
civil disobedience and was a place where thousands united in
protest. The
camp was positioned to block the main entrance to the eastern side of
the
island’s bombing range.
During the struggles against the Navy,
protestors camped,
took part in religious ceremonies and peacefully demonstrated their
opposition
to the Navy’s presence.
Music was always present,
as well as activities for children
and families. Live footage was taken during the day as people
participated in acts of civil disobedience.
Each night the footage of the day’s activities was
formatted and played
as a form of encouragement to fellow protestors.
Currently, the Peace and Justice Camp acts
as the
headquarters for the Committee for the Rescue and Redevelopment of
Vieques. It also serves as the broadcast
center for the local radio station Radio
Vieques which broadcasts a weekly program discussing current issues
on the Island.
Top two photos taken by: Committee for Rescue &
Redevelopment of Vieques.
Bottom photo taken by: Bev Menard
Information from conversation with Bob Rabin.
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 The Puerto Ferro lighthouse is located in the Fish and
Wildlife Reserve on the peninsula of Verdiales. The neo-classical
building demonstrates common 19th century Spanish architectural design
and consists of a stucco keeper’s quarters with a white octagonal stone
tower found directly in the center of the dwelling. The lens of the
original light was a Fifth Order Fresnel Lens which hints to potential
uses in marking channels, reefs and illuminating harbor entrances or
islands up to ten miles away.
 The structure was abandoned in 1926 and fell
into disrepair due to continual weathering, erosion of the bedrock and,
until recently, Navy practices. The lighthouse is listed in the
Federal Registration of Historic Places. Today, a United States Coast
Guard skeletal tower replaces the lighthouse with its active beacon.
Top right picture from: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHPR.html
Bottom left picture from: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/vieques/PhotoGallery/
Information from: http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/fresnel/5order.htm
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