September 12, 2016

ATTICA UPRISING – CRITICAL NEW BOOK SHEDS NEW LIGHT

“With the exception of Indian massacres in the late 19th century, the State Police assault which ended the four-day prison uprising was the bloodiest one-day encounter between Americans since the Civil War.”  New York State Special Commission on Attica, 1971.

I am looking forward to reading Professor Heather Ann Thompson’s newly released book, “Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy.”  The long-awaited book coincides with the 45th anniversary of the September 9 – 13, 1971 prison rebellion at Attica Correctional Facility, in upstate New York. Blood in the Water sheds new light on the uprising, the unnecessarily violent response and fabrications of New York State, and the impact of Attica down to this day. The book reveals significant amounts of material never before released to the public, and includes interviews with former Attica prisoners, hostages, families of victims, lawyers, judges, law enforcement, and state officials.

There will be a webcast of an event at the National Museum of African American History and Culture discussing the book, on Thursday September 29th, 7:00-9:00pm (EDT). It can be viewed by visiting Ustream.tv September 29th.

The book can be purchased from Amazon.

Tragically, 45 years later, conditions in many prisons remain abysmal. On September 9, 2016 Democracy Now aired information on a current day  9/9/2016 National Strike by Prison Workers –in over 24 states & 40 Facilities.  View  the 1971  Attica Uprising segment .