What would be a good response to this?
Researching Alcatraz Island definitely interested me because I live about an hour north from San Francisco, and every time I drive over the Golden Gate bridge I can see Alcatraz. This event that occurred was really neither a battle or a war. It was occupying Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971 to make a point regarding American Indian Activism. The events began when the owner of a boat named the Monte Crisco took several people out on the bay on a tour around Alcatraz Island. Richard Oakes, a Mohawk, dove into the waters and swam to Alcatraz Island. Four others followed him. Although the Coast Guard brought these people back to land, 11 days later on November 20, 1969, 79 people arrived on Alcatraz Island who would stay for 19 months. These people claimed the land under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie since the land was being unused by the government. Many people mocked the Indians for the Alcatraz Takeover and organizers even went as far to fake "Bureau of Caucasian Affairs" and offer $24 in "glass beads and red cloth" for the island of Alcatraz. The people on Alcatraz were doing this to take a stand and have a victory when it came to rough history their people had. At one point during this occupation of Alcatraz Island the Coast Guard set up a blockage to keep food and supplies from entering the island, although when Thanksgiving approached the embargo was removed. In July 1970 Nixon asked Congress to pass a bill that would return the sacred land to the Taos Pueblo Indians, which led many to see this as a result of Alcatraz. In June of 1971 the last 15 occupiers were removed from the island. In 1972 Alcatraz Island was designated as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, due to this event occurring. After researching this I definitely am going to think of Alcatraz in a different light next time I drive by.