I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I sat down to watch this documentary. I love documentaries. I love learning something new about history, about biographies, about events…But when it comes to sheer evil. Let’s just say…with clenched fists I watched this and had to keep whispering, “God will handle this. God will judge. God will punish them.” 

For those who don’t know, in September of 1971, there was a full-scale riot at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York. Starting on the 9^th, prisoners broke through a gate that had a loose bolt, and one of the first things they did was beat a correctional officer to death. Then they took hostages. They made demands. They called for lawyers, reforms, and better conditions.  

On Monday, September 13^th, 1971…a helicopter flew over dumping a cloud of tear gas into the yard before state police went in with a hail of gunfire, pretty much firing indiscriminately. People who were surrendering were shot and killed. Hostages were shot and killed. In total, 43 people were dead, over 80 wounded. 

After that…and here’s where I really bite my lip and struggle to contain my rage…prisoners were stripped naked and subjected to some of the most inhumane torture imaginable. I don’t want to curse. I would encourage you to watch the documentary to see for yourself, but I confess…I do take umbrage with some of the decisions the producers took in putting this film together, as I’ll mention later.