“I think the occupation of Alcatraz did lot for all Indians, even the people that didn’t participate in the occupation. I think it had an impact on their lives because it made them proud of who they are as Indian people.”
- Millie Ketcheshawno, Indian community leader
“So while many people thought we were crazy for taking over an island prison in San Francisco Bay, the changes that protest set in motion have been positive and long-lasting. There were many occupations and sit-ins in Indian country in the two decades following Alcatraz, but Alcatraz was the first. The Mohawk leader of that occupation, Richard Oakes, was a true visionary.” |
"The occupation of Alcatraz Island was a springboard for Indian activism, inspiring the large number of takeovers and demonstrations that began shortly after the 20 November 1969 landing... Many of the approximately seventy-four occupations that followed Alcatraz were either planned by or included people who had been involved in the Alcatraz occupation.” [3]
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CLICK ON THE DOCUMENT TO READ ABOUT THE GOALS OF THE RED POWER MOVEMENT
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“Alcatraz provided a clear plan of action for the Red Power movement that was carried out in other protests.” [4] "The Red Power movement arose in response to social and economic conditions Native Americans faced in the mid-20th century. The movement advocated for improved living conditions and the return of Native American land from the federal government." [5]
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“As the Red Power movement declined, the federal government reviewed its policies toward Indians in a new light. Government officials were more than aware of Red Power actions and the changes in public opinion that resulted. Several laws were passed that supported the rights of Native Americans to govern themselves.” [6]
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"In the end, the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement may have strengthened and diversified U.S. society and made it a more tolerant place for all.” [7]
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“But it wasn’t the end. It was the end of the occupation of Alcatraz, but it was not the end of the emotions and the pride that began with the occupation itself. That pride just rippled across America and it gave us strength out there in the field.” |