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| Commemoration of Occupation of Alcatraz |
Leonard Peltier to Alcatraz Commemoration: Stand with Palestine to Stop the Killing
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Updated Nov. 27, 2025
"We want the Palestinian people to know that we stand with them." -- Leonard Peltier
ALCATRAZ ISLAND -- Leonard Peltier told the gathering at Alcatraz today that it is time to stop the killing of babies in Palestine. Peltier, speaking in a recorded statement from his home, said he was denied a pass to attend the Commemoration of the Occupation of Alcatraz today.
Calling for an end to the killing in Palestine, he said, "This is the same thing they did to us."
Peltier said women, children, babies, and unborn babies are being killed. "Everyday they are killing them, they are murdering them."
"We have to stand up and scream," he said, with the reminder that it was Biden who started this.
"We have to stop them from killing the babies," he said, urging people to make their voices heard.
"We want the Palestinian people to know that we stand with them. We are going to stand with you until they stop the killing."
"Stop the killing."
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| Leonard Peltier, photo by Chad Nodland 2025 |
Peltier said he was planning on being present today, but he was denied a pass and does not know why yet.
Before dawn on Alcatraz, as about five thousand people began arriving in the boats from across the bay in San Francisco, Peltier thanked the runners who run on his behalf each year.
Speaking of the progress in Indian communities, he said, "I still feel we are in danger."
Peltier said the restrictions on his travel are very strong. "We're trying to get that taken care of."
The struggle, he said, is not just for his own total freedom, but for the freedom for the people.
What is happening to Native people is not new, he said, "This has been going on for centuries."
Although some tribes have wealth, others do not.
"It is not over," he said. "Some are living in dire poverty."
"Don't be afraid, stand up for your people" he said, encouraging the young people to take the reins.
Peltier said he has no regrets over the sacrifice he made during 49 years in prison.
"I would stand up and fight for you again."
Ohlone Welcome all to Homeland
The Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony, the Commemoration of the Occupation of Alcatraz, began before first light with an Ohlone welcome and prayers, the remembrance of the ancestral ways, and the women that stood at Alcatraz.
The Occupation 1969--1970 was carried out by the Indians of All Tribes.
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| Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony photo by Brenda Norrell 2007 |
Sharing traditional songs and prayers, Native speakers spoke of the extermination of the people, and what continues today, pointing out the increased surveillance of the gathering and the "eyes" that are on them as they gather here.
With prayers and songs from Pit River, Miwok, and Round Valley, Madonna Feather of Round Valley spoke on the struggle to save the old forest Redwoods, acorn trees and ancestral land.
Apache Women and Girls Fight for Oak Flat
Apache Stronghold is present to share the struggle to protect Oak Flat from being devastated for an open pit copper mine.
Apache women and youths are speaking now on their struggle to save their sacred Oak Flat so they can continue to carry out their ceremonies.
Thirty-five members of the Apache Stronghold traveled from their homeland in Arizona to share their fight to prevent sacred Oak Flat from being dug out, gouged out for a massive copper mine.
Apache women described the battle to protect the land for Apache girls Coming of Age Ceremony.
"We were able to hold them off for sometime, and we were able to have my daughter's ceremony," Sinetta Brown, Apache, said.
"We've been running, we've been fighting, and they've been trying to take over. They've been threatening us, they have been shooting at us."
"It is in our blood to to keep going, to keep fighting." With the fight continuing in court, Brown called for support from Round Valley relatives and California Natives.
Brown's daughter, Apache youth Lozen Brown Lopez, said, "They are going to try and destroy our sacred land where our holy water will be contaminated."
"That is where we were born and took our first breath," said Lozen, speaking passionately for those who suffered through boarding schools -- those whose hair was cut, and those who were forbidden to speak their language -- and for the girls who are struggling so they will be able to have their ceremonies there.
"We know our language, and we know what we have to do to protect our sacred lands," Lozen said, speaking on behalf of the Apache girls who are preparing to carry out their own Coming of Age Ceremony at Oak Flat.
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| Wendsler Nosie on Alcatraz 2025 |
Wendsler Nosie, Sr., said he moved back to the land to protect Oak Flat six years ago to place that is Holy and Sacred. Wendsler said it is an honor to be here and honor the women in this fight.
"Today we fight for Mother Earth, our Mother."
"The other races forgot, this is our Mother, she provides for us."
Nosie said the people have to come back to the focus, that is the greatest gift of power, of this blessing to communicate with the Spirit.
Speaking of the children, he said, "It is sad to see so many of them fighting for their survival."
"It all starts with prayer."
"We must rise as we have done this morning in prayer," said Nosie, with thanks for the suffering that he said will only make the people stronger.
"We must protect these Holy Places."
"When this country cries, it is time for Native people to move spiritually. This country is crying, it has shown its weakness."
"Now it is time for us to move forward."
The Apache Stronghold shared the blessing of a song.
Kumeyaay: The Sounds and Seeds of Resistance
Kumeyaay Stan Rodriguez, San Isabel, spoke on the attempts to exterminate his people in their territory. Kumeyaay live in what is known as San Diego County in California, and south of the border in Baja.
"That border was put right through Kumeyaay territory," Rodriguez said, pointing out that half of their territory is south of the border in Baja.
As president of DQ University, he said they want DQ to rise again, which came from the ashes of Alcatraz.
"We do not recognize these borders, we have our own territories, our own land," Rodriguez said, sharing the rich legacy of the Native people in California.
"We have more languages, cultures and diversity than any other place in the world aside from Papua, New Guinea, hundreds of languages, hundreds of nations."
Kumeyaay survived the encroachment of the Spanish, Mexicans, Russians and Americans.
"Their policies tried to exterminate our people," he said. The first governor of California Peter Burnett put a bounty on their heads.
"We are survivors of a Holocaust, we are still alive."
"When we come together and we sing our songs, that is resistance. When we speak our language, that is resistance. Our power comes from unity. When we come together and support each other, no one can stop us."
With thanks to the Ohlone people for allowing them to come, he shared Warrior Songs, singing the songs of valor, perseverance and battles fought and won.
"We are all Warriors here, and we need to remember that."
The reason the land was evaded was because the people did not stand together, he said, but the people can learn from that.
"We can come together like a Bundle of Arrows that can never be broken."
When the people were removed from Alcatraz, they occupied land near Davis and Santa Rosa in northern California.
"They took the seeds of Alcatraz with them, that became DQ University," he said, inviting all those gathered on Alcatraz to join them for dinner and to talk about starting the school up again.
Remembering the Early Days of the Resistance
"Radio Free Alcatraz," with Miguel Molina on KPFA, is broadcasting live. Molina said Radio Free Alcatraz was originally broadcast by John Trudell during the Occupation in 1969 and revived by Molina and KPFA in 1992.
This morning's broadcast began as the first boat arrived during dawn on the island, with Molina's interview with Jimbo Simmons, Choctaw, arriving from Oklahoma. Jimbo said the prayer that began in 1969 continues today with the young people carrying that prayer to the next level.
"That spirit of resistance is why we are here today." Jimbo said Alcatraz was the beginning of an international solidarity movement for Indigenous rights.
Remembering the early days of the Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony, Jimbo said it was difficult to get a hundred and fifty people to attend in the early days. "We were giving our tickets away."
Jimbo remembered Bill Wahpepah and the early days of the resistance in the American Indian Movement.
"Alcatraz was the tip of the spear."The spirit of resistance and the Sacred Fire are the reason the people are here, he said.
Tony Gonzales, AIM West, speaking about this Un-Thanksgiving, said the feast of "Indians feeding the pilgrims," is a myth.
Tony said he was glad to see so many young people today. Remembering those who first occupied the island and made the sacrifices to be here, Tony said, "We share that bond."
Indigenous Justice: Honoring the California Indian Women Warriors
"Sue Steele, Shirley Guevara, Eldy Bratt, Justine Moppin, Cecilia Pepion, Sandra Aguilar and Rosalie McKay — women who stood on the rock, held the line, raised the children, cooked the food, protected the people, and kept the fires of sovereignty burning. Their leadership made the Red Power Movement possible. Their courage continues to shape our struggle for Indigenous rights, safety, and self-determination today.
"From 1969 to now, the Occupation remains a reminder: our survival is an act of resistance, our sovereignty is inherent, and our future is sacred. The prayers of our elders and ancestors on that island continue to protect us, guide us, and strengthen our fight for the next 7 generations.
"We look forward to gathering together on Thursday, November 27th to honor the women warriors of the Occupation, to uplift our elders, and to continue the work they began; defending our lands, our peoples, and our right to live free, safe, and sovereign.
"We honor the women who carried us then. We follow their footsteps now."
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Alcatraz Occupation 1969 -- 1970   With thanks to the Indians of All Tribes   Read More: Leonard Peltier on the National Day of Mourning 2025 By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Nov. 27, 2025 TURTLE MOUNTAIN CHIPPEWA NATION -- Speaking on the National Day of Mourning known as "Thanksgiving," freed political prisoner Leonard Peltier said Native people want the massacres of their people to be known. Peltier said it is already happening again, as can be seen in the deaths of children in Palestine and the Ukraine and what they are trying to do in Iran. "They're killing thousands and thousands of babies and young children and destroying homes. And this is the same thing they did to us. This is why we got a day of mourning," Peltier said from his home on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Nation. "We've got to fight to expose these atrocities, it is not over. It's not over for us or it's not over for the rest of the world -- because once they get done with Iran and Palestine and Ukraine, they're going to move to another area." "They want to be the super race. They want to control the whole world. And we can't let them do that. We won't let them do that." Censored News content can not be used without written permission, or be used in any way for income or revenues. |
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