On this day in 1971, New York state troopers raided Attica, the rural upstate prison where inmates had taken control, holding dozens of guards hostage for four days and demanding reforms. By the time order was restored, 10 hostages and 29 inmates were dead. Scores more were wounded. Four others—one guard and three prisoners—were killed earlier during the standoff.
The Marshall Project has written about the tensions and brutality that still pervade Attica today and about many of the books that explored the conditions that made Attica ripe for revolt and the investigations that followed in the aftermath.
To mark the 45th anniversary of this seminal moment in America's criminal justice system, The Marshall Project replayed the uprising from beginning to end. Using the social network Twitter, we broadcast the events that led up to the riot, the days of negotiations for the release of the corrections officers held hostage and finally the violence that ended the stalemate on the morning of Sept. 13, 1971.
Each tweet went out at roughly the same day and date as the events described 45 years earlier. Here, we've collected the entire timeline of @atticasghosts.
45 years ago this week, inmates at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, NY, started an uprising.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
While the riot & the retaking of Attica by authorities ultimately led to the deaths of 43 people, it spurred landmark prison reform efforts.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
In the following days, @marshallproj will livetweet here the events in detail as they happened in 1971.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Attica’s uprising was recently featured in @hthompsn’s new book “Blood in the Water”. pic.twitter.com/ZVZCvWwYT3
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
We also used as sources Tom Wicker’s “A Time To Die: The Attica Prison Revolt”, and the Special Commission on Attica’s report.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Sept. 8, 1971
The scene: pic.twitter.com/T7CCQeqnTU
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
A lieutenant confronts Leroy Dewer in A yard after witnessing him scuffling with another prisoner and orders Dewer to his cell.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Dewer, who was transferred to Attica after participating in a riot at Auburn the year before, is suspected of being a troublemaker.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Lt. Richard Maroney grabs Dewer’s arm, and Dewer strikes him, twice. Nearby prisoners leap to his defense. Officers retreat.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Prison Supt. Vincent Mancusi orders Dewer and Ray Lamorie, one of the prisoners defending him in the yard, be sent to solitary.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Four officers drag Dewer from his cell. Lamorie goes quietly. Officer Tom Boyle is hit in the face with a full soup can, thrown from a cell.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Officers charge William Ortiz with throwing the soup can that hit Boyle and order him confined to his cell under “keep-lock”.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Leaving A-block, taking Lamorie to solitary, Lt. Robert Curtiss hears a shout from the cells, “We’ll get you in the morning, motherfuckers!”
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 8, 2016
Sept. 9, 1971
Other prisoners spring Ortiz, accused of hitting a guard with a full can of soup, from his cell so he can join them to go to breakfast.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
After Ortiz is discovered out of his cell, the entire group of prisoners in Five Company is ordered back to their cells.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Lt. Curtiss approaches Five Company to send them to their cells. The prisoners beat him, knocking him unconscious.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Other guards nearby are attacked, and prisoners take their keys.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
The gate at Times Square, the intersection of tunnels between all four cell blocks, is broken down under pressure from the prisoners.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Prisoners pour into Times Square, beating Officer William Quinn and fracturing his skull in two places. pic.twitter.com/Ekjdvbci57
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
The rebellion spreads through the prison. Prisoners have access to all four main cell blocks.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Armed with pieces of pipe, chain, broomsticks, hammers and homemade knives, rioters capture two tear-gas launchers stored at Times Square.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
The prison alarm is raised. pic.twitter.com/ziYNj4SLay
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
1,281 inmates assemble in D yard with 43 hostages. Rioters control all five cell blocks and six other buildings. pic.twitter.com/eHKfk0XjaM
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Some prisoners, particularly Black Muslims, protect the hostages from beatings and abuse.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Authorities seize parts of the prison abandoned by inmates. Prisoners control B and D blocks, exercise yards, tunnels and catwalks.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Russell Oswald, New York Commissioner of Correctional Services, arrives at Attica. pic.twitter.com/SqYo0u4fIH
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
State Assemblyman Arthur Eve and SUNY Buffalo law professor Herman Schwartz visit D yard. Prisoners present them with five demands.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Demand 1: Amnesty for the rioters and guarantees against physical or legal reprisals.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Demand 2: Transportation to a foreign country.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Demand 3: Federal intervention and oversight of the administration of Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Demand 4: Reconstruction of the prison under the supervision of the prisoners.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Demand 5: A committee of journalists, attorneys and activists be allowed to observe conditions and negotiate with inmates.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Commissioner Oswald enters D yard with Eve and Schwartz and talks with inmates, agreeing to demands for food, water and outside observers.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
The State Police assure Oswald they have enough force to retake the prison.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Oswald, Eve, Schwartz and a group of reporters come back to D yard, where they are presented with 15 “Practical Proposals”.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Proposals include applying minimum wage laws to prison labor, improved food & medical care. https://t.co/PyMvVXvmUa pic.twitter.com/9YieF1mnNE
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services Walter Dunbar meets with inmates in D yard who demand a federal injunction against reprisals.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 9, 2016
In her book ‘Blood in the Water’, @hthompsn describes the tension in the yard: https://t.co/WlvAEzolnZ pic.twitter.com/q4dNUvnMUp
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Members of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller’s staff arrive at Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Schwartz flies to Vermont to get a federal court injunction to protect inmates from sanctions.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Sept. 10, 1971
Professor Schwartz returns with injunction from a federal judge. Prisoners believe it is too narrow and lacking an official seal.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Oswald visits D yard. Inmates tear up the injunction. https://t.co/zFEaoWTACh pic.twitter.com/z3WATiEm7w
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Oswald decides to stop negotiating directly with the prisoners.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Inmates hold elections for representatives to speak for them in negotiations.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
33 observers meet at Attica and receive briefing by officials.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Observers visit D yard. One observer, lawyer William Kunstler, calls Black Panther Bobby Seale from inside the prison.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 10, 2016
Observers committee again goes to D yard to hear demands, which now include the removal of Superintendent Mancusi.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Sept. 11, 1971
Observers leave D yard.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Three observers visit Wyoming County D.A. Louis James to ask for amnesty for rebelling inmates.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
James offers statement that there will be no vindictive prosecutions or reprisals. https://t.co/VL8qZHy8oO
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Several observers believe James’ letter too tepid & will be rejected by inmates. Committee leaders try to whittle down list of demands.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
At Rochester General Hospital, Officer William Quinn dies of skull fractures suffered during initial burst of rebellion at Times Square.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Observers committee crafts 28 proposals that will be acceptable to Commissioner Oswald.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Proposals include increased recreation time, an inmate grievance commission and providing drug treatment programs.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, arrives at Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
After waiting an hour while Oswald and the observers discuss admitting him to the prison, Seale leaves.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Oswald sends the State Police to ask Seale to return to Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 11, 2016
Seale enters Attica. pic.twitter.com/EWlUtNvooX
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Seale refuses to endorse the observers’ 28 proposals.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Observers present the 28 proposals to prisoners, and some spend hours discussing the points. pic.twitter.com/jBLtUQSz19
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
The inmates refuse to settle the rebellion, and the 28 proposals are ripped up.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Sept. 12, 1971
The observers’ committee issues a public statement asking Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to come to Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Observers call Rockefeller personally, asking him to meet with them at Attica. He refuses. pic.twitter.com/7PbOzZD90X
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Commissioner Oswald sends statement to inmates, requesting release of hostages and offering negotiations.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Nine observers enter D yard after signing waivers releasing the state from liability in case of injury or death. pic.twitter.com/34ewiels73
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Observers are followed by a group of black and Puerto Rican journalists, and the hostages are interviewed. pic.twitter.com/4Xq9hCVI3y
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
The observers leave D yard.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Gov. Rockefeller says publicly he will not come to Attica. pic.twitter.com/wevBOgTAVC
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 12, 2016
Observers beg Commissioner Oswald for more time to negotiate with the inmates.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Sept. 13, 1971
Commissioner Oswald calls Gov. Rockefeller to try to persuade him to come to Attica, but he again refuses.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Commissioner Oswald calls Gov. Rockefeller to try to persuade him to come to Attica, but he again refuses.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
State police marksmen set up positions on roofs and top floors of A and C blocks. pic.twitter.com/ZZ87nWxfaM
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Police attack units gather on lower floors of A and C blocks, preparing to retake the prison.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Eight blindfolded hostages, knives at their throats, are led to a walkway near Times Square, where the riot began.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Inmates reject Oswald’s ultimatum
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
11 corrections officers, unaware of the attack plan, gather with weapons in a 3rd-floor corridor.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
The power to the prison is cut.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
A helicopter drops tear gas on D yard.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Marksmen open fire in bid to retake Attica.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
A State Police helicopter broadcasts an announcement demanding inmates surrender. https://t.co/bWVk9Qta7Y
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
New York State Police officials report that Attica has been fully secured.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Observers continue to hear shots being fired inside the prison.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
10 hostages and 29 inmates are dead or dying in Attica, all hit by bullets and buckshot of corrections officers and state troopers.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Three hostages, 85 inmates and one state trooper are wounded in the assault. pic.twitter.com/EBsX3EmkE9
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Two hostages were seriously injured by the inmates.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Authorities find bodies of three inmates, stabbed and beaten to death.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
The three white inmates are believed to have been killed for being “traitors” to the uprising and for threatening hostages.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Commissioner Oswald tells observers the prison had been retaken “with excellent discipline and without brutality.” pic.twitter.com/jUOB4I7kVo
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Rockefeller phoned President Nixon to claim victory. Details of that call emerged in 2011: https://t.co/Qzc9iNVwYB pic.twitter.com/lQHkQ7dNX1
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Sources for this timeline include Tom Wicker’s “A Time To Die”, https://t.co/eZ6oHguTNm
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
...The Special Commission on Attica’s report https://t.co/eZLYYrnEqr
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
...and @hthompsn’s new book, “Blood in the Water.” https://t.co/Su1BQWF9ka
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Find the best reporting on Attica then and now, selected by @marshallproj: https://t.co/SySlCqqimN
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
At @marshallproj, @tommy_robb reviews “Blood in the Water” and other books probing the Attica riot & its aftermath. https://t.co/FFrX7h0SRq
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
NY Dept of Correctional Services Public relations director Gerald Houlihan tells reporters all the hostages were killed by prisoners.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Seven or eight of the hostages, Houlihan said, had their throats slit. https://t.co/9XysJGLzi8 pic.twitter.com/NvQlr33tu9
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Deputy commissioner Dunbar tells the press that during the siege the prisoners castrated one hostage and stuffed his genitals in his mouth.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 13, 2016
Sept. 14, 1971
Monroe County Medical examiner Dr. John Edland tells reporters that the hostages were not mutilated, and all had died of gunshot wounds.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 14, 2016
None of the rioting prisoners had guns. Only the state troopers and police sent to rescue the hostages had firearms.
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 14, 2016
Gov. Rockefeller later described it as a “very unfortunate and embarrassing situation.”
— Tweeting Attica 1971 (@atticasghosts) September 14, 2016
