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Attica

By VVAW

"WE ARE MEN. WE ARE NOT BEASTS AND WE DO NOT INTEND TO BE BEATEN OR DRIVEN AS SUCH!"

On September 9, 1971, the prisoners of Attica revolted against the racist and oppressive prison system. They held the prison and 38 guards as hostages for three days as they negotiated with the State. During that time they ran their own lives; they cared for the hostages whom they did not harm. No one was attacked or killed.

They negotiated for twenty-eight demands with the authorities. The demands included: "freedom of religion," "an effective narcotics treatment program," "a healthy diet" and "that inmates shall be permitted to return to their cells or to other suitable accomodations or shelter under their own power. The observer committee shall monitor the implementation of this operation." These demands were all agreed to by the Commissioner of Corrections, Oswald.

But on the fourth day, September 13th, the State attacked. Chanting "white power" the police entered the prison armed with shotguns loaded with buckshot and hunting rifles with dum-dum bullets. Within five minutes, thirty-nine men, including ten hostages, were killed and hundreds more wounded. No one was hurt by the prisoners; all the acts were committed by the police and state troopers. Prison leaders were systematically singled out and tortured with beatings, burned with cigarettes, and electrical shocks. For those prisoners who were murdered, next of kin were notified about the dead through a telegram reading: "Your son is dead. Do you want the body?"

Rockefeller, the man who ordered the massacre, also ordered a "Commission on Attica." The commission published its report one year to the day of the uprising and to the dismay of the New York governor, found the prison system to be at fault. The summary stated: "For inmates correction meant daily degredation and humiliation.... Visits from family and friends took place through a mesh screen and were preceded and followed by strip searches probing every orifice of the inmate's body. Above all, for both inmates and officers meant an atmosphere charged with racism. IN the end the promise of rehabilitation had become a cruel joke."

Despite this report, sixty Attica Brothers were indicted by a special Grand Jury. Not one government official, not one state trooper, not one guard was indicted for even one violation. The charges against the Brothers range from murder to promoting prison contraband to possession of a prison key. Some of the defendants face as many as 34 life terms, plus 265 years. The only evidence the Grand Jury has heard was presented by Deputy Attorney General, Robert Fisher, a man appointed by Rockefeller. Over three million dollars has already been spent by the prosecution and the trial should not begin for over a year.

Faced with improbable odds, the Attica Brothers are strong and united and are preparing to give the State of New York a political battle within the courts. However, to wage this battle, the Brothers are in desperate need of financial assistance. Send contributions to: Attica Defense Committee, 1370 Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y. 14209. The telephone number is (716) 884-4423.

"The same sickness that caroused the wholesale slaughter of unarmed men, inmates and guards alike still prevails. Efforts to punish and justify these acts of murder is now the business of the day; and with one-sided law and appointed judges they are doing a good job of indicting inmates. THEY STILL WANT BLOOD. After all, somebody has got to pay for Attica and the inmates are to be the sacrificial lambs."
-- Mrs. Laverne Barkley, mother of L.D. Barkley