Navy says “no” to Clinton campaigning on Vieques

Part of the heated Democratic presidential race headed to Puerto Rico this week where campaign activities where held by close relatives of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. For instance, Michelle Obama spoke to followers in San Juan and emphasized “self-determination” by islanders over Puerto Rico’s political status.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Clinton wanted to campaign on the former U.S. Navy firing range on the island of Vieques. Naval officials denied her request:

The Navy rejected the request because U.S. law forbids campaigning on federal property and because the Navy allows only people clearing the Vieques range of ordinance to enter the area, the officials said. They said they did not know what Clinton planned to do there.

Vieques had been the site of several heated protests years ago after a bombing exercise accidently killed a security guard. Though the Naval base closed in 2003, opinions remain heated over the island’s relations with the U.S.

Sources- Reuters, Bloomberg, Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist

Image- BBC News (1999 image of protestors demonstrating against the U.S. Naval base on Vieques)