Attica
On September 9, 1971, 1200 prisoners at Attica State Prison in upstate New York seized control of the prison demanding better living, working and educational conditions. The rebellion lasted for four days until the New York State Police stormed the prison killing 29 prisoners and 10 hostages.
Documents
Attica Anniversary Program in Bay Area
Date: 9/13/1991Call Number: PM 086AFormat: Cass AProgram: Attica anniversary event, not for radioCollection: Attica
This tape in a recording of the 20th Attica anniversary event held in San Francisco. Bobby Castillo speaks on Native American and African American solidarity within the National Liberation movement, and the Movimento Liberacion Nacional (MLN) marching on Washington that week. Attorney. Bob Bloom gives an update on the Geronimo Pratt case. Dharuba Bin Wahad, s.n. Richard Moore, gives a talk on the history of national liberation struggle, including the Black Liberation Army, Attica, San Quentin and Cointelpro.
Attica Five Years After
Date: 9/14/1976Call Number: PM 148Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: David Levine, Richard HarrisCollection: Attica
Attica: Five Years After speaks of the injustices that led up to the Attica rebellion as well as those that occurred in its aftermath.
Includes clips from the days surrounding the Attica rebellion, but is mostly the accounts of inmates, guards and lawyers five years after the assault. Accounts given of how the prison had changed, the investigation of the rebellion and how trials were conducted. Shows Rockefeller’s role in how the events of the rebellion took place as well as the investigations afterward. Interview with Dacejiwieah (John Hill) , the only man convicted in connection to the Attica Rebellion and who was sentenced to 20 years to life. Includes the Manifesto of the Inmates of Attica State Prison read by LD Barkley. Interview with Ron Wert (president of the officers union Local 1040) and Wayne Cure. Interview with Lynn Carson, a member of the jury that tried Shango (Bernard Strobble).
Remember Attica: The Rebellion
Date: 9/11/1971Call Number: PM 149Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Delores CostelloProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Live coverage of the Attica rebellion starting September 9, 1971. LD Barkley reads the prisoner’s manifesto which outlines their demands . Tom Soto of the Prisoner Solidarity Committee speaks on the prison conditions that lead up to the rebellion. Members of the negotiating committee, Rev. Wyatt T. Walker, Black Panther leader, Bobby Seale, Assemblyman Jim Evers and Juan Ortiz of the Young Lords Party are interviewed while visiting the prison. The inmates requested that three reporters be sent into the prison. Contains the reporters’ interviews with inmates and hostages from within the prison during the occupation.
Remember Attica: The Invasion
Date: 9/12/1971Call Number: PM 150Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Paul Fisher, Delores CostelloProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Commissioner of Correctional Services, Russell Oswald statement to the prisoners on 9/12/71. Prisoners are assaulted by air and ground. Jerry Hoolahan speaks on Oswald’s statement. Paul Fisher reports outside Attica’s gates as the invasion takes place. Interview with William Kunstler, an attorney and member of the Citizen’s Negotiating Committee. Includes Oswald’s speech after the invasion and Clarence Jones (Publisher of Amsterdam News and member of the Citizen’s Negotiating Committee) response to Oswald’s speech. Interview with a medical assistant exiting the scene reporting on the conditions of the prisoners
We Are Attica
Date: 2/1/1972Call Number: PM 151Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Bruce Soloway, Dolores Costello, Paul Fisher, David RapkinProgram: Pacific Radio WBAICollection: Attica
In February of 1972 seven maximum security prisoners were finally allowed to give the press in-prison interviews. They give accounts of the inhumane state of health care, education, rules and punishments, race discrimination, exploitation of labor, and general oppression still evident within the prison. They also discuss the Attica Liberation Faction, the manifesto (partial reading included) and the effect of George Jackson’s death on the prisoners. They speak about the September 13, 1971 rebellion, the violent retaking of the prison, torture and murder of prisoners and guards by the government. Donald Noble from PM 152 and Frank Smith from PM 155.
Inside Attica: An Interview with Donald Noble
Date: 2/14/1972Call Number: PM 152Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Bruce Soloway, Cinda FirestoneProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Interview conducted with Donald Noble, singled out as a “leader” of the Attica Rebellion and mistreated. He speaks on his past and present experience within the prison and what little changes occurred after the rebellion. He comments on the flawed press coverage of the prison and his hope for outside intervention. Excerpted in PM 151.
Attica: Black Friday
Three days after the Attica rebellion ended a memorial was held outside the prison walls for the deceased guards and prison employees. Speakers included chaplains from numerous prisons. The next day a much different memorial was held. BUILD (a local black community action organization) held a memorial rally in Buffalo called Black Friday. People were asked to boycott school and work and thousands were in attendance. Reverend Ismael Shaw and Pastor Bob Wilson spoke in praise of the prisoners who gave their lives, Tilmon White read 2 poems, Bill Gater of the Citizen Observer Committee read the list of the prisoner’s demands and the Gale Singers gave a musical performance. Other speakers included Dr. Elise Galotti of Howard University, James Foreman of the Black Worker’s Congress, a sister of of one of the prisoner’s murdered in the rebellion and Minister Franklin Florence of FIGHT.
Inside Attica- An Interview with Frank Smith
Date: 2/14/1972Call Number: PM 155Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Bruce SolowayProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Bruce Soloway interviews Frank Smith, a prisoner and a leader of the Attica rebellion, isolated from the media since its violent end. Smith speaks on the torture he received following the rebellion, the premeditated murder of LD Barkley, the racial problems created by the institution, the inhumane treatment towards prisoners by the judicial and correctional department, and the lack of educational materials and health care within the prison. Smith emphasizes the need for communication between guards and prisoners and the need for the oppressed people of the United States to start act to change the conditions of their lives.
After five years of incarceration Smith reports that Attica has changed for the worse.
Excerpted on PM 151.
Arthur Eve on Attica
Date: 1/1/1972Call Number: PM 156Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Rob CrockerProgram: WBAICollection: Attica
Arthur Eve, black Assemblyman from Buffalo, New York and a member of the Attica rebellion observer committee speaks about what happened during the rebellion. He was one of the first people to enter the prison at the rebellion’s inception.
He talks about the involvement of the other observer committee members (Bobby Seale, Kenyatta, The Young Lords, FIGHT, Tom Hicks).
Arthur Eve wrote to Governor Rockefeller asking him to come to Attica to avoid massacre. Eve talks about how the prison officials lied to the prisoners, about Frank Smith and his torture by prison officials.
Interview with Michael Deutsch about Attica Prison Rebellion
Claude Marks interviews Michael Deutsch about Attica Prison Rebellion and its aftermath for Prisons on Fire.
