Nilda Medina Diaz has dedicated her life to the demilitarization of Vieques. This tiny (21 miles by 3 miles) Puerto Rican island was used by the U.S. Navy for military exercise and weapons training and testing for 63 years. Largely because of the work of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, co-founded by Nilda, the U.S. closed its bases in 2003. In addition to coordinating the movement's civil-disobedience-organizational center, Nilda continues to play a crucial role in the post-Navy struggle to ensure that her community is informed and involved in their homeland's environmental cleanup.

On the morning of Dec. 21, 2000 Nilda and other members of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, placed themselves in front of huge Navy tractors to block yet another military action. Riot police arriving at the scene were well equipped with dogs, pepper spray, and handcuffs. But when a large group of community members joined the protesters, the police withdrew. Such scenes as these were common in the battles Nilda fought with and for the citizens of Vieques. Leading the struggle for "the four D's" (demilitarization, decontamination, devolution and development) members of the Committee often put themselves in harm's way.

Born in 1950 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Nilda is the youngest of five children. As a student at the University of Puerto Rico, she began organizing for labor rights and was regional coordinator for the Puerto Rican Socialist Party during the 1970s. Armed with a certificate to teach science – and fierce determination – she moved to Vieques in1980.

Her work has not ended with the withdrawal of the U.S. military.
As a member of the Restoration Advisory Board, she reviews and reports on military clean-up efforts. She organizes community forums to discuss the clean-up, independent expert evaluation of its progress, activities for teen mothers, and leadership opportunities for the local youth organization. She helps to resolve transportation issues for families with loved ones in the hospital or in prison, and arranges legal representation for Viequenses who have been arrested by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for using ex-military lands for community functions. She is a coordinator of "Radio Vieques," a weekly radio program – a vital service for a community that has no newspaper. To help similar communities dealing with problems left by military bases, Nilda serves on the Board of the Military Toxics Project.

Many problems remain in Vieques. The land has not been returned to the people of Puerto Rico; rather, it has been transferred to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in order to assess environmental damages. So far, the U.S. has allocated only a small portion of the money needed for cleanup.

Born 1950 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, Nilda is the youngest of five children. As a student at the University of Puerto Rico, she began organizing for labor rights and was regional coordinator for the Puerto Rican Socialist Party during the 1970s. Armed with a certificate to teach science-and fierce determination-she moved to Vieques in 1980.
In December 2000, Nilda and other members of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques placed themselves in front of huge navy tractors to block yet another military action. Riot police arriving at the scene were well equipped with dogs, pepper spray, and handcuffs. But when a large group of community members joined the protesters, the police withdrew. Scenes such as these were common in the battles Nilda fought with and for the citizens of Vieques. Leading the struggle for "the four Ds" (demilitarization, decontamination, devolution, and development), members of the Committee often put themselves in harm's way.
Her work has not ended with the withdrawal of the US military. As a member of the Restoration Advisory Board, she reviews and reports on the military cleanup. She organizes community forums, independent expert evaluation of the progress of the cleanup, activities for teen mothers, and leadership opportunities for the local youth organization. She helps to resolve transportation issues for families with loved ones in hospital or in prison. and arranges legal representation for Viequenses who have been arrested by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for using ex-military lands for community functions. She is a coordinator of "Radio Vieques", a weekly radio program and a vital service for a community that has no newspaper. To help similar communities dealing with problems left by military bases, Nilda serves on the Board of the Military Toxics Project.

Many problems remain in Vieques. The land has not been returned to the people of Puerto Rico; rather, it has been transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in order to assess environmental damage. So far, the USA has allocated only a small portion of the money needed for the cleanup.

Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Restoration Advisory Board
Military Toxics Project