Attica Prison riots
The
Attica Prison riots were general
prison uprisings that occurred at the
Attica Correctional Facility in
Attica, New York on
September 13,
1971. The four-day revolt ended when over 1,000
New York state police and
National Guardsmensmen 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 received national media attention on 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 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
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