Occupation of Alcatraz

The Occupation of Alcatraz was a protest from 1969 to 1971, when a group of Native American activists and students occupied the abandoned Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. They aimed to assert Native rights and highlight issues of injustice, claiming the island based on a treaty that reserved unused federal land for Native peoples. The occupation drew national attention to Native sovereignty and land rights, sparking conversations and inspiring future activism. Although the occupation was eventually ended by authorities, it remains a significant act of protest in Native American history.