Occupation of Alcatraz: Native American activists seize control of Alcatraz Island until being ousted by the U.S. Government on June 11, 1971.

The Occupation of Alcatraz in 1971 was a significant event in Native American activism and the broader civil rights movement. On November 20, 1969, a group of Native American activists, calling themselves the Indians of All Tribes (IOAT), occupied the abandoned Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, which was the site of the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

The activists, led by individuals such as Richard Oakes, LaNada Means, and John Trudell, claimed that the occupation was a symbolic act to reclaim land that was rightfully theirs under the terms of the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), which stated that surplus federal land would be returned to Native tribes. The Alcatraz Island had been declared surplus federal property in 1964.

The occupiers argued that the federal government should honor the treaty and turn the island into a center for Native American studies, cultural preservation, and community development. They believed that the unused federal land could be repurposed for the betterment of Native American communities.

The occupation garnered widespread attention and support, both from Native Americans across the country and from various activists sympathetic to their cause. The activists faced numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, lack of sanitation facilities, and legal actions taken by the federal government to remove them from the island.

Over time, the occupation brought attention to the broader issues faced by Native American communities, such as land rights, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic challenges. Although the occupation of Alcatraz ultimately ended in June 1971, it is often considered a pivotal moment in Native American activism, paving the way for future protests and movements advocating for indigenous rights and recognition.

Association football player Pelé scores his 1,000th goal.

Pelé, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is a retired Brazilian football (soccer) player widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil.

Pelé began his professional career at a young age, joining the Santos Football Club in Brazil in 1956. His remarkable skills and goal-scoring ability quickly gained attention, and he became a key player for both Santos and the Brazilian national team.

One of Pelé’s most notable achievements came in 1958 when, at the age of 17, he played a crucial role in leading Brazil to victory in the FIFA World Cup held in Sweden. Pelé scored a hat-trick in the semifinal against France and two more goals in the final against Sweden, helping Brazil win their first World Cup title. He remains the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final.

Pelé went on to win two more World Cups with Brazil in 1962 and 1970. In the 1962 World Cup held in Chile, he suffered an injury in the second match and could not continue playing, but Brazil still went on to win the tournament. In the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, Pelé was a key figure in Brazil’s success, scoring four goals in total and helping his team secure their third World Cup title.

Throughout his career, Pelé scored over 1,000 professional goals and achieved numerous records. He played for Santos until 1974 when he joined the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL), contributing to the growth of football in the United States. Pelé retired from professional football in 1977.

Beyond his on-field success, Pelé has become a global ambassador for football and has been involved in various charitable and humanitarian efforts. His impact on the sport and his legacy as one of the greatest football players ever continue to be celebrated worldwide.

Cold War: Negotiators from the Soviet Union and the United States meet in Helsinki, Finland to begin SALT I negotiations aimed at limiting the number of strategic weapons on both sides.

The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were a series of negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War with the aim of curbing the arms race between the two superpowers. The talks primarily focused on limiting the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons. There were two rounds of SALT negotiations: SALT I and SALT II.

SALT I (1969-1972):
The SALT I negotiations began in 1969, following a period of increased tension and nuclear arms buildup between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The talks resulted in two key agreements: the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.
The ABM Treaty aimed to limit the number of anti-ballistic missile systems each country could deploy, with the goal of preventing a strategic imbalance that might undermine the principle of mutually assured destruction (MAD).
The Interim Agreement established certain limits on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that each side could deploy.

SALT II (1972-1979):
SALT II negotiations began in the mid-1970s, building on the foundation laid by SALT I. The talks aimed to set more comprehensive limits on various types of nuclear weapons.
However, SALT II was never ratified by the U.S. Senate due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In response to the Soviet action, the United States suspended its participation in the SALT II negotiations.
Despite the lack of formal ratification, both the United States and the Soviet Union voluntarily adhered to the terms of the SALT II agreement until 1986.

The SALT agreements represented efforts by both superpowers to manage the nuclear arms race and reduce the risk of a catastrophic conflict. While they did not eliminate the nuclear arsenals of either country, they contributed to stability by placing limits on certain types of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. The SALT process marked a significant step in the broader effort to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons during the Cold War.

Association football player Pelé scores his 1,000th goal.