San Francisco - Extremely Eloquent, Therefore Extremely Dangerous

7,000 Rally at S.F. People’s Bicentennial. Trudell Reading Message from Dennis Banks Who Was Being Held in San Francisco Jail. | July 10, 1976

Banks July 4th message: “I do not celebrate today, instead I mourn for all my brothers and sisters whose lives have been lost fighting for our freedom. On this so-called day of independence I ask you America, what does the concept of freedom mean to Anna Mae Aquash, and to Buddy La Mont, to Frank Crow Dog, and to Little Joseph Stuntz, all of whom were killed by the federal gun…”

John Trudell reemphasizing Banks’ message: Our enemy is the FBI. They no longer wear the uniform of the Seventh Calvary, but their actions are the same. All that has changed is technology. We must not talk to the FBI. They are the enemies of the people. They are the murderers. The thieves. We want to be liberated from their corrupt value system. Today, July 4, is just one more day of oppression. Free the People! ~

SOURCE: The Black Panther. Vol 15, No.13.

Interview with John Trudell at Fisherman’s Wharf | 1970

John Trudell: As long as it doesn’t get hot out there. See it’s, like the way it is right now with us with the water situation is we don’t have enough water to flush our toilets we have to haul seawater to do this, we don’t have enough water to keep the island as clean as we want to because we’ve got to ration it. Because we are hauling it and we have to ration the water because, because anything could happen and it’s like what if they come in and try to take us off and we want to barricade ourselves in a building we’ve got to have water to hold out with. But we’re not going to, and besides that, everybody should have water. I mean God gave it to the land and we have a right to it. He didn’t give it to the United States government.

John Trudell: Radio Free Alcatraz | April 30, 1970

As far as the island, we’re holding up pretty well. We have been working pretty closely with the [Bay Area Native American Council] organization here. BANAC was formed by the Indian groups and the service organizations in the Bay Area to deal with the Alcatraz situation, and Alcatraz is a part of BANAC. BANAC has helped us to establish a refrigerator over at the depot, on Pier 40, and things can be brought there, contributions, whatever you feel that we deserve, and we will try to liberate ourselves from the federal government and gain some kind of self-determination.

Alcatraz Indians Reject Park Plan | April 9, 1970

“A center for Native American studies aimed at imparting skills and knowledge to improve the lives and spirits of all Indians. A spiritual center, which would practice ancient tribal religious and healing ceremonies. A center of ecology, to train young people to restore lands and waters to their natural state. A training school. A museum that would depict Indian food and cultural contributions and show the noble and tragic events of Indian history, including the broken treaties, the documentary of the Trail of Tears, the massacre of Wounded Knee, as well as the victory over yellow hair Custer and his army.” – John Trudell on the complex proposed by the Indians. ~

SOURCE: https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/09/archives/alcatraz-indians-reject-park-plan-insist-government-consider-their.html

Alcatraz Panel with Indians from Various Tribes | December 23, 1969

JOHN TRUDELL: Good evening, this is John Trudell welcoming you to Radio Free Alcatraz and I’m speaking on behalf of the Indians of All Tribes. Tonight we’ll be speaking with Mrs. Stella Leech, Mr. Gabriel Sharp and Mr. Raymond Spang. Mrs. Leech is a member of the Colville Sioux Tribe. She’s a registered nurse and a council member on the island. She runs the clinic here on the island, and she took a three month leave of absence from her job at the Well Baby Clinic in San Francisco to work with the people on the island. She’s been here with Operation Alcatraz from the very beginning. Mr. Gabriel Sharp is a Mojave and a member of the Colorado River Tribes of Parker, Arizona. His occupation is counselor for Indian high school students and assistant director of the Indian Upward Bound program at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He’s also chairman of education for the Arizona Indian Association.

Alcatraz Radio to Go on the Air | December 21, 1969

Radio Free Alcatraz will start broadcasting 15 minutes a day on Monday from the former penitentiary over a Berkeley radio station. Al Silbowitz, manager of listener-owned station KPFA-FM, said Thursday. “We’re just offering them the outlet. We don’t want to crowd them and we’re not telling them what do; we want it to be their thing. John Trudell, a Santee Sioux from Nebraska who is among the American Indians who have seized the island in San Francisco Bay, will direct the program. It will include Native American culture, current events, and lessons on Indian history. The program is tentatively scheduled for 8 pm.” Silbowitz said it would also be heard over KPFA’s sister station in Los Angeles, KPFK.

SOURCE: https://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/recording/bb545701-bb545738

How it All Got Started | November, 1969

From November 20, 1969, the Indians of All Tribes occupied Alcatraz Island off the coast of San Francisco, California. The Alcatraz takeover was done to protest federal laws that contradicted historic land treaties with the Indians and aimed to destroy American Indian cultures, including the right of tribes to self-govern. This occupation was the first of its kind and inspired Native Americans to fight for their civil rights, as well as expose their issues to the North American public.

Radio Free Alcatraz was conceived to give a voice to the voiceless minority of Native Americans. On December 22, 1969, KPFA began its first live broadcast from Alcatraz under the direction of John Trudell with borrowed and donated radio equipment. The programs originated from the main cell block building on Alcatraz and were carried live by the Pacifica Network, which consisted, at the time, of KPFA, Berkeley; KPFK, Los Angeles; and WBAI, New York, weekday evenings at 7:15 p.m. PST.

SOURCE: https://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/recording/bb545701-bb545738