Martin Sheen Calls for End to Bombing in Vieques

by  Hector Rosario
Students United for a Responsible Global Environment -
              http://www.unc.edu/surge

22 January, 2001

Press Release

Actor Martin Sheen asked Clinton to stop bombing on Vieques.

Well known actor, Martin Sheen, star of the TV series, The West Wing - in which he plays the part of the President - sent a letter to ex President Clinton, dated 13 January, urging him to order the immediate and permanent cessation of military activity on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. In the letter Sheen asked Clinton to act "immediately, with courage and compassion" to end the military occupation of the island municipality.

A helicopter circles all the civil disobedience camps daily at very low altitudes. It takes pictures of everything happening there.

In a separate letter to the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Sheen said he was "inspired by the non violent struggle and that as a North American it saddens me to know of the destruction and contamination caused by the weapons testing by the US and NATO, and in particular, the use of depleted uranium."

The star of TV and film has played important leading roles in movies such as Ghandi, Catch-22 and Apocalypse Now, about the Vietnam War.

Based upon Christian faith, Martin Sheen has participated in several acts of civil disobedience in protests against militarism and is known for his support of social justice struggles both in the US and in other countries. The name of Sheen adds to a long list of celebrities in the arts and from politics  including Tito Trinidad, Jesse Jackson, Ricky Martin, Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama, nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu and Puerto Rican baseball player, Carlos Delgado - that have expressed support for the permanent and immediate cessation of bombing on Vieques.

Contact: Robert Rabin (787) 741-0716