Taking a stand

In February of 1970, 21-year-old Marilyn Maracle was one of about

100 native Americans occupying the abandoned federal prison island

of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay. The demonstrators were demanding

that the federal government turn over the island and empty prison

for use as an Indian American cultural and educational center. Here,

Miss Maracle,a Mohawk from Oklahoma, leans against the wall of an

empty cell as she speaks of the plight of native Americans in the

U.S. "I'm an Indian, and I don't know what that means," she said.

The island occupiers were removed by federal authorities after 19

months. More photos of the project can be seen in my photo.net

portfolio. Your comments and critiques are always welcome.

Thanks...Bill

This entire collection is gold. I do not mean monitary gold. It is historical gold. It is also ethical gold. The Native-American occupation of Alcatraz was a moment when whatever freedom ever existed in the US reached its apex. The people were being heard and the ruling class and its governemnt were intimidated as they have not been since.

I like this photograph as a photograph and within its historical contex. There is an irony here. The girl looks like she is in jain but in fact she has liberated the jail. You captured this moment well, good friend.