Alcatraz prison



The Alcatraz Citadel was a one-time military prison turned into a political prison operated by the Special Prison Administration on the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.

The Citadel housed political prisoners, first from lesser White convicts during the Second American Civil War, and later the battle against remaining reactionaries such as the True Democrats and the Sons of Liberty, as well as the occasional dangerous criminal (filed as a "societal enemy")

After 44 years in operation, the prison was eventually phased out as political prisons in its mold fell out of fashion, and closed in 1978. By then, most of its prisoners were paroled or pardoned, sometimes expatriated to American Havana.

It is now a Cultural/Significant Landmark as designated by the Cultural Secretariat, alongside fellow SPA prison Leavenworth with a museum dedicated to the SPA and its legacy.

Notable Prisoners

 * Barry Goldwater (1909-2001) - The most famous prisoner. Former Arizona Businessman, later author and politician. After his parole in 1958, would go on to write memoirs on his days at Alcatraz. Convicted of selling arms to White forces (later used for war crimes).
 * Gerald LK Smith (1898-1976) - Former Huey Long ally turned National Salvation Front partisan. Repatriated to Cuba following his 1960 parole. Convicted of leading massacres in Baton Rogue and Monroe, Louisiana.
 * Theodore Bilbo (1877-1947) - Former Mississippi Governor, KKK member, and arch-segregationist turned arch-MacArthurist propagandist and partisan. Was shot during the Revolution and suffered continued health problems throughout his incarceration (spent entirely in the prison infirmary). Died shortly after his compassionate release in 1947. Convicted of complicity and leadership in KKK attacks across Mississippi (especially on Black civilians) and inflammatory, racist rhetoric and propaganda.
 * George Van Horn Moseley (1874-1962) - US General and staunch MacArthur ally, captured in battle. Repatriated to Cuba after his 1955 parole, and given the role of head of the Cuban NBI. Convicted of inflammatory rhetoric and complicity in war crimes.
 * Bugsy Siegel (1906-1970) - Gangster, one-time Jewish associate of the Mafia with friends Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano. . Released in 1962, and retired to Los Angeles and later to Tel-Aviv in Palestine (where he was killed in his apartment in 1970). Convicted as an associate of Luciano's Italian arms scheme and for selling arms to the New England Sons of Liberty and the Native Sons of California.
 * Frank Nitti (1886-1959) - One time affiliate of Chicago Outfit boss Johnny Torrio and sub-boss Al Capone. Captured during Capone's ill-fated robbery of the Chicago Union Bank in 1936. Received compassionate release in 1950 due to developing claustrophobia and fled to South Italy shortly after. Convicted of aiding and abetting Capone and the Illinois Sons of Liberty.
 * Robert Shroud (1890-1963) - The "Birdman of Leavenworth", a holdover of the pre-Revolutionary criminals not released under the general amnesty (due to his violent nature), and transferred to Alcatraz in 1940. Eventually released in 1954. Originally convicted of manslaughter in 1909, later received a life sentence after murdering a guard in 1919.
 * Alvin Karpis (1907-1984) - Associate of the notorious Baker criminal gang. Second most famous prisoner for his escape in 1946. Fled back to his native Canada and was pardoned in 1981 due to his advanced age. Convicted of kidnapping, robbery, and murder.