Navy–Culebra protests

In 1970, the islanders began a concerted and multi-pronged effort to convince the Navy and the United States government to cease this practice.

[2] Throughout the ensuing five years, Richard Copaken, the young lawyer at that law firm who assumed this responsibility, sometimes aided by his colleague Tom Jones, pursued legal actions in U.S. federal courts, lobbied representatives and senators in the U.S. Congress, and publicized the ongoing struggle in national newspapers.

[3] Popular support for terminating the bombing was also very important, and took the form of protests and demonstrations both in Culebra and the main island of Puerto Rico.

[4] These wide-ranging and well-directed efforts – legal maneuvers, congressional lobbying, public relations, and popular demonstrations – brought success.

Although these efforts resulted in a peaceful, bombardment-free Culebra, military exercises were soon thereafter moved to the nearby island of Vieques.