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Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage invaded the Rock to save San Francisco from a deadly nerve gas attack. That was a movie. In real-life, 89 Native Americans plus many other supporters occupied Alcatraz for 19 months to protest the violation of a treaty that required out-of-use federal land to be returned to them.
--On This Day in History, Shit Went Down: November 20, 1969--
Upon the announcement in 1963 that the notorious federal penitentiary was to be shut down, Belva Cottier, who was a social worker and member of the Rosebud Sioux, said hey great—they can give that land back to us like they promised. But the government said nope, it belongs to the City of San Francisco. Cottier said like fuck it does, bringing out the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which stated they could claim surplus federal government land.
In 1964 she organized a small group of Native Americans to occupy the land for only four hours, coupled with a court action to gain title to it. The protestors were peaceful, and even offered to pay the government back the exact same amount they’d been paid for it: $9.40 for the entire island. The authorities said get off the fucking island or you’ll all be charged with felonies. They left, but the action served to increase awareness of Native American protests in the Bay Area. Continues below …
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They didn’t give up the fight, but in October of 1969 there was a fire at the San Francisco Indian Center. The Center provided critical support to the Native American community in terms of jobs, legal aid, healthcare, and socialization. Its loss, coupled with the government saying they were going to sell Alcatraz to developers, prompted more extreme action. On November 20, 1969, a group calling itself Indians of All Tribes (IOAT) occupied the island.
The 89 Native Americans headed for Alcatraz included many women and children. The Coast Guard stopped most of them, but 14 made it ashore. The lone guard on the island fudged himself in a radio distress call, proclaiming, “Mayday! Mayday! The Indians have landed!” Jesus Christ what a wanker. At its height there were over 400 people on the island. The protestors had a school, a daycare, and a health clinic. Native and non-native supporters ferried food and supplies to the island, but the Coast Guard were cocks and the blockade made it difficult.
Co-leader of the occupation, activist and author LaNada War Jack, was the first person to land on the island, and the last to leave. She made clear that the treaty entitled them to build a Native American cultural center on the island. Numerous celebrities visited the island to show support, giving the occupation national attention. But the government cut off electricity, and the food and water became increasingly scarce. Public support faded and most occupiers returned to the mainland. After almost 19 months of occupation, a mass of cops removed the remaining 15 people by force.
Although it didn’t achieve their aims, the IOAT occupation of Alcatraz became an inspiration for hundreds of additional acts of Native American civil disobedience in coming years.
Thanks, Monshin, for the suggestion of today’s topic.
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‘muricans fuck over anyone who is not a white anglo saxon protestant heterosexual male; greatest country in the world? My ASS.
Keep dropping your truth bombs; you (and others like you - SciBabe, etc.,) are the heroes without capes who will save the world - if it can be saved)✊