In September 1971, inmates at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York rose up in one of the most significant and tragic prison rebellions in U.S. history. This petition—addressed to Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Attorney-General Louis Lefkowitz—was circulated in the aftermath of the uprising, demanding an end to criminal prosecutions against the prisoners and drawing urgent attention to the dire conditions that had sparked their revolt.
Historical Context
The rebellion began on September 9, 1971, when inmates—long subjected to overcrowding, racism, and inadequate medical care—seized control of a large portion of the prison. With negotiations over improved conditions deadlocked, authorities violently retook Attica four days later. The official death toll rose to forty-three, including both inmates and hostages. Despite the McKay Commission’s eventual finding that the inmates’ actions were largely spontaneous and born of legitimate grievances, New York State launched a massive investigation to indict those who participated.
Strategy: Building Pressure on Authorities
- Collective Advocacy – By listing multiple signature blocks, the petition sought to unite everyday citizens, activists, and anyone troubled by the prison system’s failings. This was a clear attempt at grassroots pressure: letting state officials know that concern over Attica’s aftermath was not confined to incarcerated people alone.
- Public Forum – The petition served as an educational tool. Embedded in its text is a concise summary of the conditions that precipitated the uprising, the violent retaking by officials, and the subsequent legal maneuvers. Because few Americans had firsthand insight into life behind bars, the document itself functioned as a mini-exposé.
- Human Rights Emphasis – By calling out specific “brutal” methods (expanding buckshot, inadequate medical care) and referencing the “solitary confinement” and “gauntlets” used on prisoners, the petition framed Attica not simply as a prison revolt, but as a broader human rights crisis.
Language, Imagery, and Symbolism
- Emotive Power: Phrases like “virtually assured the death or serious injury of innocent persons” struck at the conscience of potential signatories.
- Call to Action: By concluding with “We, the undersigned, demand…” the petition underscored that real people’s lives were at stake and that public pressure was a necessary corrective to official injustice.
- Sobering Visual: The small photograph on the petition—shadowy figures behind bars—symbolically evoked the stark reality of incarceration. The intentionally grainy image highlighted the atmosphere of confinement and heightened the moral imperative to act.
Impact
While petitions alone could not override state prosecutorial decisions, this document played a role in broader efforts to shift public sentiment about prison conditions and criminal justice. It was one of many grassroots tools that galvanized support for inmates’ rights and called attention to systemic issues—from racial discrimination to overly punitive policies. Over the following decades, the Attica rebellion would become a touchstone for prison-reform activism and a rallying cry against mass incarceration. Though the state investigations into the rebellion carried on, the longer-term legacy is seen in ongoing debates about the ethics of solitary confinement, the need for accountability, and the continuing struggle for fair treatment of incarcerated individuals.
Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.
