When Alcatraz was no longer needed as a prison, there was a lot of debate about what should be done with the island in the future. While the discussion was going on, a group of Native Americans decided to take matters into their own hands and claim the island for themselves.

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SOURCES

“Alcatraz Island.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed August 31, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/place/Alcatraz-Island.

Andrews, Evan. “When Native American Activists Occupied Alcatraz Island.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, November 20, 2014. https://www.history.com/news/native-american-activists-occupy-alcatraz-island-45-years-ago.

Crawford, Mary. “Indians Back On Alcatraz For '2 Days'.” The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California), November 20, 1969. www.newspapers.com.

Gilio-Whitaker, Dina. “Richard Oakes Led Native Americans to Occupy Alcatraz in 1969 - His Tragic Story Is Finally Being Told.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2019. https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-richard-oakes-native-american-alcatraz-20190110-story.html.

Nolte, Carl. “Alcatraz's American Indian Past Refreshed.” SFGATE. San Francisco Chronicle, March 24, 2016. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alcatraz-s-American-Indian-past-refreshed-7004146.php.

Reuters. “Future of 'The Rock' As Uncertain As Ever.” Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana), November 9, 1969.

Root, Leeanne. “Who Was Richard Oakes?” ICT. ICT, May 22, 2017. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/who-was-richard-oakes.

Rosenbaum, Jack. “Fancy Meeting You.” The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California), November 9, 1969. www.newspapers.com.

Wollan, Malia. “Antigovernment Graffiti Restored, Courtesy of Government.” The New York Times. The New York Times, December 25, 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/us/alcatraz-american-indian-occupation-graffiti-preserved.html.