May 4, 2000 – CBS World News Roundup – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
May4, 2000 – The day started with news that Federal Agents had raided the Puerto Rican island of Vieques and were in the process of removing protestors who had taken over the Navy Bombing range, effectively shutting it down. Twelve protest camps were raided by Federal agents, supported by helicopters. Anticipating violence, the protestors offered little resistance and the FBI arrested some 12 protestors, which included New York Congresswoman Nydia Velà zquez. The Vieques protests were over the continued use by the U.S. Navy of the tiny island for bombing practice and wanted the island returned to Puerto Rico. At the end of the day, both sides claimed victory and the eventual withdrawal of the Navy, but they did leave a possibly contaminated mess in their wake.
Elsewhere in the news – New York Archdiocese Cardinal O’Connor lost his 9 month long battle with brain cancer. The 80 year old Cardinal was a favorite among the Catholic community in New York and his passing was marked with remembrances. Not without controversy, O’Connor divided New York Catholics with his unwavering support of Church doctrine – but it was a stance that also brought him broad respect.
A damning new report revealed that minorities were getting a raw deal at every level of the U.S. Justice system. Despite evidence of advances in equality along economic and educational lines, but in criminal justice, inequality was growing. Evidence was revealed that, in most every instance, officials used discrection to be tougher on Blacks and Hispanics and that racial bias was rampant among law enforcement.
And Gun Manufacturers were changing tactics, anticipating that, come November, George W. Bush would be occupying the White House, and this would result in more sympathetic ears in high places. Hoping for George W. Bush and Republican Congressional victories, the gun makers broke off talks aimed at settling liability lawsuits brought against them by local governments and cheered on by the Clinton Administration. The New York Times reported that the Gun Industry believes Bush would oppose the suits. The White House was quoted as saying, for the gun industry to defer what they described as “doing the right thing” in the hopes of a Bush victory, would be a cynical act.
And that’s just a little of what went on, this May 4th in 2000 as reported by The CBS World News Roundup.
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