Top News

On This Day: Occupation of Alcatraz begins

On Nov. 20, 1969, the Occupation of Alcatraz began as Native American activists seized control of the island prison. It took 19 months to remove the activists from the rock.
By UPI Staff   |   Nov. 20, 2019 at 3:00 AM
On November 20, 1969, the Occupation of Alcatraz began as Native American activists seized control of the island prison. It took 19 months to remove the activists from the rock. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI Astronaut Jerry L. Ross takes a picture during a 7-hour, 21-minute spacewalk aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor, December 8, 1998, while in orbit to connect the Zarya control module to Unity. On November 20, 1998, Zarya, the first module that would make up the International Space Station, was launched from Kazakhstan. File Photo by Jerry L. Ross/NASA On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II of England, married Philip Mountbatten, pictured in 1984. File Photo by Rob Taggart/UPI On November 20, 1945, 24 German leaders went on trial at Nuremberg before the International War Crimes Tribunal. File Photo by U.S. Army/UPI A man photographs a portion of the AIDS quilt on the National Mall on July 22, 2012, in Washington, D.C. On November 20, 1986, the World Health Organization announced a coordinated global effort against AIDS. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI On November 20, 2009, Hamid Karzai was sworn in to begin his second five-year term as president of Afghanistan, vowing his army would have full control of the country's security by the time he left office. File Photo by Hossein Fatemi/UPI

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

Advertising
Advertising

In 1910, the Plan de San Luis Potosi was issued by Francisco I. Madero calling for the overthrow of the Mexican government led by Porfirio Diaz. This marked the beginning of the 10-year Mexican Revolution.

In 1945, 24 German leaders went on trial at Nuremberg before the International War Crimes Tribunal.

In 1947, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II of England, married Philip Mountbatten.

UPI File Photo

In 1969, the Occupation of Alcatraz began as Native American activists seized control of the island prison. It took 19 months to remove the activists from the rock.

In 1975, Generalissimo Francisco Franco of Spain died.

In 1986, the World Health Organization announced a coordinated global effort against AIDS. WHO said there were 34,448 reported cases of AIDS worldwide.

In 1992, fire erupted at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth's official residence west of London, causing much damage. The queen and Prince Andrew helped save priceless artworks and other valuables kept in the castle.

In 1998, Zarya, the first module that would make up the International Space Station, was launched from Kazakhstan.

In 2007, Ian Smith, the former Rhodesian prime minister who led his South African white-minority government through a violence-wracked era until the end of white rule in 1979, died at 88 after a long illness.

In 2009, Hamid Karzai was sworn in, to begin his second five-year term as president of Afghanistan vowing his army would have full control of the country's security by the time he left office.

File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI

In 2012, Church of England elders, in a close vote, decided not to allow women to become bishops.

In 2014, President Barack Obama took executive action to grant temporary legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants. His order created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans programs.

In 2017, engineers used 4,000 pounds of explosives and 6 miles of wiring to take down Atlanta's Georgia Dome. When it opened in 1992, it was the largest covered stadium in the world.

File Photo by David Tulis/UPI