Orisanmi Burton: What really happened during the Attica Prison Rebellion

What really happened during the Attica Prison Rebellion

On September 9th 1971, a spontaneous uprising began in a New York State prison. A group of prisoners overpowered guards, broke windows, started fires, and captured supplies, sparking the Attica Rebellion. Soon, over 1,200 prisoners had assembled with 42 hostages to demand better treatment and better living conditions. Orisanmi Burton details the revolt and deadly retaking of Attica prison. [Directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat, narrated by Christina Greer, music by Cem Misirlioglu and Greg Chudzik].

The 1971 Attica Prison uprising began when over 1,200 men, mostly Black and Latino, demanded humane treatment after years of overcrowding and abuse. Prisoners faced severe deprivation, with only one shower a week and one roll of toilet paper a month. Their powerful protest highlighted a system that treated them as less than human and connected their struggle to broader fights for dignity and justice. The violent government response left dozens dead but failed to silence calls for prison reform and abolition.