Session Abstract

Overview:

September 2011 marked the 40^th anniversary of the historic prison rebellion at the Attica State Correctional Facility in upstate New York—a dramatic civil rights protest that ended with Governor Nelson Rockefeller ordering over 600 state troopers to storm the prison and retake it with force. As a result of this forcible retaking 39 people were shot to death—hostages and inmates alike—and scores of other prisoners were severely wounded and tortured for days.  HIstorian Heather Ann Thompson is currently writing the first comprehensive history of the Attica rebellion and its legacy and she has also served as historical consultant on a path breaking documentary film about this famous prison uprising entitled: Criminal Injustice: Death and Politics at Attica. This film will be an important addition to the way in which historians teach the politics of the 1960s and 1970s, the civil rights and black power movements, and the prisoner rights movement in America. As such, we propose that it be screened at the AHA. We propose a screening followed by a roundtable Q and A with the filmmakers, with historical consultant Thompson, and with several of the Attica participants featured in this documentary.

 The Documentary:

Criminal Injustice: Death and Politics at Attica. is a 50 minute documentary film that brings this historical event to life in completely new and startling ways. Based on scores of interviews of eyewitnesses who just now are telling their stories, as well as filmmaker access to newly discovered documents, Criminal Injustice brings genuinely new evidence to light regarding what exactly happened at Attica between September 9-13, 1971 and the role played there by local, state, and even federal officials.  Indeed this film raises important new questions about the deaths caused at Attica, about the involvement by individuals in the White House at Attica, and the corrupting influence of Nelson Rockefeller's political aspirations on decision made before, during, and long after the controversial and deadly retaking of that prison.  

Forty years after this cataclysmic and highly charged event, filmmakers Marshall and Christopher found that many are willing to speak with new candor that adds depth, and in some cases alters, the historic record. The film includes the final interview regarding Attica given by NYT reporter Tom Wicker (who was an observer/negotiator on the scene and author of A Time to Die about his experiences at Attica) as well as candid new conversations with Malcolm Bell, the special prosecutor turned whistle blower, as well as Dr. George Abbott—one of the central figures in determining the cause of both inmate and hostage deaths who has never before spoken on film.  With context provided by Dr. Heather Ann Thompson (Temple University) who is writing a comprehensive history of this prison uprising and with narration provided by the daughters of slain inmate Elliott L.D. Barkley and slain guard William Quinn, this 50 minute film will provide much for scholars and students of the United States in the later postwar period to think about in new ways.