Attica
prison uprising
start
Index
1. Synopsis
2. Causes
3. Govt. Response
4. Impact
5. Elliot Barkley
6. Frank Smith7. (Works Cited)
Synopsis
The Attica Prison Uprising occurred within the context of the deplorable prison conditions and racial discrimination within the facility. Guards often relegated black prisoners to the worst jobs and subjected them to constant harassment. Guards often threw out letters in Spanish addressed to or written by Hispanic prisoners. An employee roster of the prison revealed all but one of the correctional officers were white. Prisoners spent 14-16 hours a day in cells with poor access to medical care, an inequitable parole system, and faced constant beatings from the guards.What initially began as a confrontation between a correctional officer who attempted to discipline two inmates for fighting on September 9, 1971, would spiral into a massive revolt culminating with the prisoners seizing control of the prison, taking nearly 42 civilian employees as hostages, and drafting a series of demands to be met before they would be willing to negotiate their surrender. These included better medical treatment, improved food quality, religious freedom, an end to the physical abuse inflicted by guards, and other basic necessities such as toothbrushes and hot showers. After a breakdown in negotiations between the prisoners New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the latter would order armed state and local police to storm the prison and retake control from the prisoners. The ensuing battle would leave more than 33 inmates and 10 correctional officers dead, making the Attica Prison Uprising the bloodiest prison riot in the history of the United States and cementing its role as a catalyst in the prisoners' rights movement.
Prisoners protesting inhumane conditions at Attica
Causes
There were several causes behind the Attica Uprising, all of which played a significant role in contributing to the subsequent violence which would become the highlight of the revolt. The main ones were:1. Unmet Inmate Needs: Attica Prison was overcrowded, outdated, and generally a poor living space. Poor medical care, low-paying jobs, restriction of communication with loved ones, boiling temperatures, and favoring white inmates all led to widespread malcontent within the prison population. 2. Zeitgeist of The 1960s: The period starting from the 1960s would bear witness to an era of increased cultural and racial awareness with movements championing civil rights reform to mold society in a more equal fashion. This spirit was extended towards the concept of prisoners' rights, a concept that championed better treatment for prisoners. The previous year in 1970, another prison revolt had occurred at the Manhattan Detention Complex, and the inmates of Attica were believed to have been inspired by its rationale and goals when creating their manifesto of demands for greater privileges.
A dirty jail cell in the Attica Prison
Govt. response
Of the 33 demands outlined by the prisoners, the government accepted 28. The clauses NY Governor Rockefeller would not concede to were those agreeing to grant amnesty, or an official pardon, to the inmates. After a series of back-and-forth negotiations broke out on the contentious issue broke down, Rockefeller ordered State Police to retake the Attica Facility by force. On September 13, 1971, tear gas was dropped into the prison yard and hundreds of law enforcement officers opened fire into the smoke, shooting at least 128 men, and killing 9 hostages and 29 inmates. The federal government adhered to precedent by attempting to resist and violently crush the notion of prisoners' rights but changed gear in the face of widespread public backlash as they had during the Civil Rights movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King. In November of 1971, a special commission was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Attica Uprising with an emphasis on investigating its causes and remedying them to prevent such a future catastrophe in the future. The commission's report was scathingly critical of the state government's handling of the crisis and highlighted the poor living conditions of the prisoners, providing a massive boost towards the credibility and legitimacy of nationwide prisoners' rights reform movement.
Heavily armed members of law enforcement storming Attica
IMPACT
After the Attica Commission's accounts of the torture, racial discrimination, and sexual abuse suffered by the inmates at the hands of prison authorities was released to the public, the State Department of Corrections implemented major changes to the prison system such as: 1. Providing more basic necessities such as showers, medical care, family visits, etc. .2. Introducing a feedback procedure in which inmates could report prison staff who violated prison policy 3. Providing access to higher education 4. Allowing greater religious freedom for inmates
The Attica Prison, refurbished to meet federal guidelines on prisoner living standards
Leading figure
Elliot Barkley was an African-American inmate and one of the key leaders of the Attica Uprising. Barkley was mere days away from his scheduled release when he decided to use his skills as an orator to become the designated spokesperson for the inmates as a collective. Barkley was known to be a voracious reader and a lover of philosophy and Eastern religions, and spoke eloquently to the journalists and officials involved in the negotiations, arguing passionately for better living conditions for prisoners across the nation. Barkley was ultimately killed by law enforcement during the recapturing of the prison.
Elliot Barkley1 March 1950 - 13 September 1971
"We are men! We are not beasts and we do not intend to be beaten or driven as such. The entire prison populace, that means every one of us here, has set forth to change forever the ruthless brutalization and disregard for the lives of the prisoners here and throughout the United States. What has happened here is but the sound before the fury of those who are oppressed. We will not compromise on any terms except those terms that are agreeable to us. We've called upon all the conscientious citizens of America to assist us in putting an end to this situation that threatens the lives of not only us but of every one of you, as well." -Elliot Barkley
Elliot James "LD" Barkley
Frank "Big black" smith
Frank Smith was elected to serve as the head of security by the inmates with the task of keeping both the hostages and the civilian observers safe. He played a vital role in maintaining strict discipline and organization within the prison hierarchy and prevented it from devolving into anarchy through his strict, yet fair punishments and commanding presence that was respected by his fellow inmates. Without Smith's emphasis on creating order within prisoner-ruled Attica, the state of affairs within the facility would have been significantly more chaotic and impeded their efforts at negotiation.
Frank SmithSeptember 11, 1933 - July 31, 2004
"Attica is all of us"- Frank Smith Smith asserts how the spirit that drove the inmates to launch the Attica uprising is ever present in all humans, the spirit to recognize injustice and take action to rectify it at great peril to one's safety. By taking a stand against the terrible conditions imposed upon prisoners by the justice system and successfully reforming it, the prisoners demonstrated the power of unified action driven by a need to mold society more equitably.
Frank "Big Black" Smith
WORKS CITED https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HZittORrhLo3vsnnkblnGJTIxQJeSzB0RyEET1w4KlE/edit?usp=sharing
ATTICA PRISON UPRISING
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Transcript
Attica
prison uprising
start
Index
1. Synopsis
2. Causes
3. Govt. Response
4. Impact
5. Elliot Barkley
6. Frank Smith7. (Works Cited)
Synopsis
The Attica Prison Uprising occurred within the context of the deplorable prison conditions and racial discrimination within the facility. Guards often relegated black prisoners to the worst jobs and subjected them to constant harassment. Guards often threw out letters in Spanish addressed to or written by Hispanic prisoners. An employee roster of the prison revealed all but one of the correctional officers were white. Prisoners spent 14-16 hours a day in cells with poor access to medical care, an inequitable parole system, and faced constant beatings from the guards.What initially began as a confrontation between a correctional officer who attempted to discipline two inmates for fighting on September 9, 1971, would spiral into a massive revolt culminating with the prisoners seizing control of the prison, taking nearly 42 civilian employees as hostages, and drafting a series of demands to be met before they would be willing to negotiate their surrender. These included better medical treatment, improved food quality, religious freedom, an end to the physical abuse inflicted by guards, and other basic necessities such as toothbrushes and hot showers. After a breakdown in negotiations between the prisoners New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the latter would order armed state and local police to storm the prison and retake control from the prisoners. The ensuing battle would leave more than 33 inmates and 10 correctional officers dead, making the Attica Prison Uprising the bloodiest prison riot in the history of the United States and cementing its role as a catalyst in the prisoners' rights movement.
Prisoners protesting inhumane conditions at Attica
Causes
There were several causes behind the Attica Uprising, all of which played a significant role in contributing to the subsequent violence which would become the highlight of the revolt. The main ones were:1. Unmet Inmate Needs: Attica Prison was overcrowded, outdated, and generally a poor living space. Poor medical care, low-paying jobs, restriction of communication with loved ones, boiling temperatures, and favoring white inmates all led to widespread malcontent within the prison population. 2. Zeitgeist of The 1960s: The period starting from the 1960s would bear witness to an era of increased cultural and racial awareness with movements championing civil rights reform to mold society in a more equal fashion. This spirit was extended towards the concept of prisoners' rights, a concept that championed better treatment for prisoners. The previous year in 1970, another prison revolt had occurred at the Manhattan Detention Complex, and the inmates of Attica were believed to have been inspired by its rationale and goals when creating their manifesto of demands for greater privileges.
A dirty jail cell in the Attica Prison
Govt. response
Of the 33 demands outlined by the prisoners, the government accepted 28. The clauses NY Governor Rockefeller would not concede to were those agreeing to grant amnesty, or an official pardon, to the inmates. After a series of back-and-forth negotiations broke out on the contentious issue broke down, Rockefeller ordered State Police to retake the Attica Facility by force. On September 13, 1971, tear gas was dropped into the prison yard and hundreds of law enforcement officers opened fire into the smoke, shooting at least 128 men, and killing 9 hostages and 29 inmates. The federal government adhered to precedent by attempting to resist and violently crush the notion of prisoners' rights but changed gear in the face of widespread public backlash as they had during the Civil Rights movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King. In November of 1971, a special commission was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Attica Uprising with an emphasis on investigating its causes and remedying them to prevent such a future catastrophe in the future. The commission's report was scathingly critical of the state government's handling of the crisis and highlighted the poor living conditions of the prisoners, providing a massive boost towards the credibility and legitimacy of nationwide prisoners' rights reform movement.
Heavily armed members of law enforcement storming Attica
IMPACT
After the Attica Commission's accounts of the torture, racial discrimination, and sexual abuse suffered by the inmates at the hands of prison authorities was released to the public, the State Department of Corrections implemented major changes to the prison system such as: 1. Providing more basic necessities such as showers, medical care, family visits, etc. .2. Introducing a feedback procedure in which inmates could report prison staff who violated prison policy 3. Providing access to higher education 4. Allowing greater religious freedom for inmates
The Attica Prison, refurbished to meet federal guidelines on prisoner living standards
Leading figure
Elliot Barkley was an African-American inmate and one of the key leaders of the Attica Uprising. Barkley was mere days away from his scheduled release when he decided to use his skills as an orator to become the designated spokesperson for the inmates as a collective. Barkley was known to be a voracious reader and a lover of philosophy and Eastern religions, and spoke eloquently to the journalists and officials involved in the negotiations, arguing passionately for better living conditions for prisoners across the nation. Barkley was ultimately killed by law enforcement during the recapturing of the prison.
Elliot Barkley1 March 1950 - 13 September 1971
"We are men! We are not beasts and we do not intend to be beaten or driven as such. The entire prison populace, that means every one of us here, has set forth to change forever the ruthless brutalization and disregard for the lives of the prisoners here and throughout the United States. What has happened here is but the sound before the fury of those who are oppressed. We will not compromise on any terms except those terms that are agreeable to us. We've called upon all the conscientious citizens of America to assist us in putting an end to this situation that threatens the lives of not only us but of every one of you, as well." -Elliot Barkley
Elliot James "LD" Barkley
Frank "Big black" smith
Frank Smith was elected to serve as the head of security by the inmates with the task of keeping both the hostages and the civilian observers safe. He played a vital role in maintaining strict discipline and organization within the prison hierarchy and prevented it from devolving into anarchy through his strict, yet fair punishments and commanding presence that was respected by his fellow inmates. Without Smith's emphasis on creating order within prisoner-ruled Attica, the state of affairs within the facility would have been significantly more chaotic and impeded their efforts at negotiation.
Frank SmithSeptember 11, 1933 - July 31, 2004
"Attica is all of us"- Frank Smith Smith asserts how the spirit that drove the inmates to launch the Attica uprising is ever present in all humans, the spirit to recognize injustice and take action to rectify it at great peril to one's safety. By taking a stand against the terrible conditions imposed upon prisoners by the justice system and successfully reforming it, the prisoners demonstrated the power of unified action driven by a need to mold society more equitably.
Frank "Big Black" Smith
WORKS CITED https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HZittORrhLo3vsnnkblnGJTIxQJeSzB0RyEET1w4KlE/edit?usp=sharing