CECIL, ANDREA. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WILL REOPEN THE NOTORIOUS ALCATRAZ PRISON IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY. THE PRESIDENT MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE SAYS HE’S DIRECTING HIS GOVERNMENT TO REOPEN AND EXPAND THE ISLAND PRISON. TO QUOTE HOUSE, AMERICA’S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS. ALCATRAZ PRISON WAS CLOSED IN 1963 AND IS CURRENTLY A NATIONAL PARK. MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE ISLAND EVERY YEAR. THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE AN EXACT TIMELINE ON WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. WE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ABOUT THIS, A SPOKESPERSON TOLD US, QUOTE, LOOKS LIKE IT’S DISTRACTION DAY AGAIN IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN SAN FRANCISCO, SENATOR SCOTT WIENER REACTING AS WELL, SAYING IN PART, IF TRUMP IS SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THIS, IT’
President Trump shares intent to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison in social media post
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced his intent to reopen Alcatraz.In the post, the president said placing convicts there would keep “dangerous criminals” away from anyone they could harm. “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” Trump wrote. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”Alcatraz operated as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963. In 1969, a group of Native American activists called the Indians of All Tribes began occupying the land for 19 months in response to the U.S. government’s termination policy and the plight of Native Americans. It was a historical point that the National Park Service describes as “a watershed moment in the movement for Native American civil rights.”In 1972, Alcatraz was included in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the island opened to the public in 1973, becoming one of the most popular National Park Service sites, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.San Francisco city officials in 1988 even contemplated opening a casino on the island. Trump said his intent would be to reopen a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz. He said the reopening of the prison would serve as a symbol of law, order and justice.KCRA 3 reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office for a statement.”Looks like it’s distraction day again in Washington, D.C.,” a spokesperson for the governor said.California State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, called the president’s notion “absurd on its face.””This major tourist attraction generates significant revenue for the federal government and supports many jobs,” Wiener said in a statement. “If Trump is serious about doing this, it’s just one more step in his dismantling of democracy — a domestic gulag right in the middle of San Francisco Bay.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SAN FRANCISCO —In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced his intent to reopen Alcatraz.
In the post, the president said placing convicts there would keep “dangerous criminals” away from anyone they could harm.
“For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” Trump wrote. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Alcatraz operated as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963.
In 1969, a group of Native American activists called the Indians of All Tribes began occupying the land for 19 months in response to the U.S. government’s termination policy and the plight of Native Americans. It was a historical point that the National Park Service describes as “a watershed moment in the movement for Native American civil rights.”
In 1972, Alcatraz was included in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the island opened to the public in 1973, becoming one of the most popular National Park Service sites, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
San Francisco city officials in 1988 even contemplated opening a casino on the island.
Trump said his intent would be to reopen a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz. He said the reopening of the prison would serve as a symbol of law, order and justice.
KCRA 3 reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office for a statement.
“Looks like it’s distraction day again in Washington, D.C.,” a spokesperson for the governor said.
California State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, called the president’s notion “absurd on its face.”
“This major tourist attraction generates significant revenue for the federal government and supports many jobs,” Wiener said in a statement. “If Trump is serious about doing this, it’s just one more step in his dismantling of democracy — a domestic gulag right in the middle of San Francisco Bay.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
