Attica Prison Riot Ends in Deadliest U.S. Prison Bloodbath
In September 1971, an uprising at New York's Attica prison was crushed by force, resulting in 29 inmate deaths, 10 hostage fatalities and dozens injured.
The Attica prison in New York was housing far more inmates than its 1,600-person capacity, with prisoners enduring severe shortages of food, medical care and hygiene. On a September morning in 1971, the inmates seized the dining hall, overpowered guards and took control of the facility, eventually holding 39 staff members hostage. Negotiators, including civil-rights lawyer William Kunstler and Congressman Herman Badillo, presented demands for better medical care, sanitation, union rights and an end to racial and religious persecution.
When talks stalled, Governor Nelson Rockefeller ordered a forceful assault; helicopters delivered tear-gas and a combined police-National Guard force unleashed more than 3,000 bullets. The attack left 29 inmates and 10 hostages dead and injured 89 people. Later released recordings of President Nixon indicated the response was motivated by concerns over Black activist groups, confirming the political dimension of the tragedy.
