On September 13, 1971, a man named Alfred Williams lost his life amidst the turmoil that concluded the five-day inmate uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York. He was one of 29 prisoners who, along with 10 hostages, perished when state police and correctional officers stormed the prison to regain control. The events of that day marked the deadliest prison riot in U.S.
history.
The uprising began on September 9, as about 1,300 inmates seized control of a significant portion of the prison, taking 42 staff members hostage. The prisoners were protesting long-standing grievances over inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and racism from the all-white guard staff. For four days, negotiations took place between the inmates and state officials, with the prisoners issuing a list of demands for reform.
However, the negotiations ultimately failed. On the morning of September 13, Governor Nelson Rockefeller ordered the prison to be retaken by force. A helicopter dropped tear gas into the prison yard, and a contingent of law enforcement officers opened fire. The assault was chaotic and overwhelmingly violent, with thousands of rounds fired indiscriminately into the haze-filled yard. In the aftermath, it was revealed that Alfred Williams and the other inmates and hostages killed during the retaking died from gunshot wounds inflicted by the state's forces.
Initial reports from authorities falsely claimed that the hostages' throats had been cut by the inmates. However, autopsies later confirmed that law enforcement gunfire was the cause of all the deaths on that day. In the years that followed, investigations were conducted, but only one state trooper faced charges of reckless endangerment. Ultimately, he, along with 60 inmates who had been indicted on various charges related to the uprising, were pardoned by Governor Hugh Carey. No one was ever specifically held accountable for the death of Alfred Williams or the other individuals who died during the retaking of the prison.
