Attica Prison riots
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The Attica Prison riots were general prison uprisings that occurred at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York on September 9, 1971. The four-day revolt ended when over 1,000 New York state police and National Guardsmen stormed the facility. Over 40 people died, including 11 of the 38 hostages. The prisoners, who demanded to be heard, wanted better living conditions, showers, education, and vocational training.
Media reports claimed that inmate hostage-takers slit the throats of many of their hostages, reports that contradicted official medical evidence. Newspaper headlines made statements such as, "I Saw Slit Throats," implying that prisoners had cut the hostages' throats when the armed raid occurred. These "reports" were later found to be largely fictitious. Most hostages killed were shot by state troopers or National Guardsmen.
The Attica riots were notable in that they directed national media attention to the condition of prisons in the United States during the 1960s and early 1970s. The riots also revealed for the first time how American prison systems operated in regards to race issues, as many of the prison guards were seen as bigots.
The incident was said to have inspired the 10cc song "Rubber Bullets" and the Charles Mingus song "Remember Rockefeller at Attica."
The following employees of Attica prison were killed on September 13, 1971
- Edward T. Cunningham, born June 17, 1919, Correction Sergeant, married, eight children
- John J. D'Arcangelo, born November 11, 1947, Correction Officer, married, one child. Officer D'Arcangelo had worked at Attica only seven weeks when he died.
- Elmer G. Hardie, born March 16, 1913, Industrial Foreman, married, eight children
- Herbert W. Jones Jr., born January 3, 1945, Senior Account Clerk, married, one child
- Richard J. Lewis, born August 1, 1929, Correction Officer, married, two children
- John G. Monteleone, born November 21, 1929, Industrial Foreman, married, five children
- William E. Quinn, born March 25, 1943, Correction Officer, married, two children
- Carl W. Valone, born June 11, 1927, Correction Officer, married, four children
- Elon Werner, born September 16, 1907, Principal Account Clerk, married, two children
- Ronald D. Werner, born December 3, 1936, Correction Officer, married, three children, nephew of Elon Werner
- Harrison W. Whalen, born July 9, 1934, Correction Officer, married, two children
External link
- Yahoo! Directory - Attica Riot links (http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Crime/Correction_and_Rehabilitation/Prison_History/Attica_Prison_Riot/)