Wikimedia Commons/Dietmar Rabich
Table of Contents
The Alcatraz Indian Occupation
When fire destroyed San Francisco’s American Indian Center in 1969, activists didn’t just rebuild. They seized an entire island. For 19 months, Native Americans occupied Alcatraz prison, creating their own schools, clinics, and radio station while the world watched.
The bold move forced major policy changes that returned millions of acres to tribes. Here’s the complete story of the occupation you can explore today at Alcatraz Island.
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A Fire Wiped Out Their Meeting Place
The American Indian Center on 16th Street burned down on October 10, 1969, destroying the heart of Bay Area Native life…