Reclaiming The Rock. Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Alcatraz Island is synonymous with prison. Almost every book, TV show and movie portrays this rocky island in San Francisco Bay as a place where big name gangsters like Al Capone or Alvin Karpis were locked away.  But what you may not know is that this same location renowned for violence and incarceration also served as a beacon of peace and symbol of regaining freedom. After hundreds of years of people avoiding it and risking bullets in their backs to escape it, there was time that people risked it all to gain access to the island, and who repeatedly returned despite being forcibly removed. This week we welcome Native Heritage Month by learning about The Occupation of Alcatraz. 

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Sources: National Congress of American Indians, Legends of America, NPS,Wikipedia, Alcatraz History, History, Mashable