The State Police assault which ended a four-day prison riot at Attica Correctional
Facility in Attica, New York has been called the bloodiest one-day encounter in
this country since the Civil War. The riot began on September 9, 1971 when
prisoners responded to the death of a black radical activist inmate at San
Quentin Prison in California on August 21. About half of Attica’s inmate
population of 2,200 rebelled and seized control of the facility, taking 33 staff
members hostage and demanded better living conditions. Some agreements
were reached during the four days of negotiations. On orders from then New
York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, state police regained control of the prison
on the 13th of September. When it was over, at least 39 people were dead,
including ten correctional officers and civilian employees.
