Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 13 September 1971
- The prisoners complained that they could shower only once a week, and have only one roll of toilet paper during the entire month. The New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller refused to fulfill their demands.
This day in 1971 marked the end of the Attica Prison Riot in the western part of the state of New York.
About 1,000 prisoners protested, and 33 staff members were their hostages. The prisoners complained due to the poor prison conditions.
Although the mentioned prison could accommodate up to 1,200 people, there were 2.225 people inside.
They also complained they could shower only once a week, and have only one roll of toilet paper during the entire month. The New York State Governor Nelson Rockefeller refused to fulfill their demands.
Rockefeller was a grandson of the famous billionaire John Davison Rockefeller, probably the richest man in the history. Rockefeller served as Vice President of the United States, and wanted to become the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, but this didn’t happen.
Rockefeller refused to go to prison and directly negotiate with prisoners. He decided to use force. On this day in 1971, the armed members of the police and the National Guard broke into the mentioned prison.
39 people were killed, including 10 staff members. The investigation later revealed that all people (except three men) were killed with the weapons of the police and the National Guard.
