Alcatraz again with a prison? History of the legendary island and Trump’s plan
Alcatraz – a lonely island in the middle of the bay of San Francisco – has been the museum and the historic monument of the American penitentiary system for years. Donald Trump announced the desire to restore her former function. Proposal assuming renovation and Re -opening Alcatraz as a great sacrum She met with a wave of criticism – both from politicians and experts in criminal law and the protection of national heritage.
From the Military Fortress to the Mit of Mass Culture
Alcatraz was not always a prison. Initially, it functioned as a military fort and a place of seclusion for military deserters. In 1934 it was transformed into a federal prison, intended for the most dangerous and problematic prisoners. For 29 years of operation, a total of 1576 people came here, including Al CaponeGeorge « Machine Gun » Kelly and Robert Stroud, known as « Alcatraz Ptasznik ». Conditions? Raw and escape – almost impossible.
Alcatraz is a place of horror and legends
It was here that one of the most dramatic attempts to escape in the history of the American prison took place – the so -called The battle for Alcatraz in May 1946. Five people were killed in a three -day fight, and three prisoners were sentenced, two of them to death. But The loudest and most mysterious attempt to escape was the one from 1962. – Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers probably got out of the island, constructing a rash from raincoats. It is not known to this day whether they survived. Their story became the canvas of the film « Escape from Alcatraz » with Clint Eastwood.
History monument or prison of the future?
After closing in 1963, Alcatraz began a new life – as a museum, a tourist attraction and a place of memory. From 1972, under the management of the National Park Service, it attracts over a million tourists each year. Many of them come not only for the dark history, but also for the atmosphere – a raw, full of understatement, and literally audible – prisoners, as witnesses recall, heard music and laughter coming from San Francisco 2.5 km away.
Trump can reactivate the prison?
The idea of Donald Trump, to imprison the most dangerous criminals on the « rock » again, raises controversy. Experts indicate a lack of adequate infrastructure, gigantic costs and the need to face the regulations protecting the national heritage. « This is not only an impractical, but also dangerous idea, » commented in « The Washington Post » one of the former penitentiary administration employees.
Alcatraz is more than a prison
Alcatraz is a symbol today. Not only hard law, but also a protest and change – in the years 1969–1971 native Americans occupied her, demanding the return of land and justice. For decades this place has evolved – from the fortress to legend.
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