11. Interview with María Velázquez B 2004

11. Interview with María Velázquez B 2004

2004

María Velázquez, wife of Carmelo Felix Matta, tells the story of her family's eviction and migration out of Vieques. Then, she talks about the origins of the land rescue efforts she undertook along with her husband Carmelo. She describes the origins of Bravos de Boston, Villa Borinquen, and Monte Carmelo, and discusses the legal problems her family confronted for participating in this land rescues. She also narrates the process of eviction against her family in 1989, and how they resisted the eviction by releasing bees to the eviction officers sent by the Navy and the government of Puerto Rico. She expresses concerns about the land rescues today in relation to the polluted lands left by the Navy. Other topics include land speculation and the land transfer to Vieques people.

video

Juan Carlos Rodriguez

Cristina Urios

María Velázquez