Blood in the Water

by Thompson, Heather Ann

  18. Investigators James LeCurto and F. E. Demlar, Memorandum to A. G. Simonetti, Subject: “Quinn Homicide Investigation,” October 20, 1971. Also see: Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 5.

  19. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 6.

  20. Donald Almeter, conversation with author, New Port Richey, Florida, July 3, 2005. Also see: Carol Demare and Sarah Metzgar, “The Attica Uprising 25 Years Ago,” Times Union (Albany, New York), September 8, 1996.

  21. Eugene Smith, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 31, 2002, Albany, New York, 33.

  22. Ibid. 35.

  23. Ibid., 36.

  24. Ibid., 36.

  25. Dean Wright, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, May 9–10, 2002, Rochester, New York, 59–63.

  26. Nicholas Gage, “Richard Clark,” New York Times, September 15, 1971.

  27. Clark, The Brothers of Attica, 23.

  28. Royal Morgan, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, August 13, 2002, Rochester, New York, 74.

  29. Clark, The Brothers of Attica, 24.

  30. Ibid.

  31. Ibid.

  32. There are conflicting reports on whether the top official also at that gate was Mancusi or Vincent. The McKay Commission wrote that it was Vincent, and Clark later told Quinn’s daughter that it was Mancusi. See: McKay Report, 161. Also see: Deanne Quinn Miller, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 30, 2002, Albany, New York, 184.

  33. Investigators James LeCurto and F. E. Demlar, Memorandum to A. G. Simonetti, Subject: “Quinn Homicide Investigation,” October 20, 1971.

  34. Clark, The Brothers of Attica, 25.

  35. Gordon Kelsey, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, January 26, 1972, Erie County courthouse.

  36. Kelsey, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, January 26, 1972.

  37. Richard O. Merle, Testimony, The State of New York v. John Hill et al., Vol. 10, New York State Court of Appeals, Albany, New York, March 7, 1975, 2021–23.

  38. Nancy Quinn Newton, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 30, 2002, Albany, New York, 149.

  39. Ibid., 149–50.

  10. REELING AND REACTING

  1. Richard Maroney, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 400.

  2. As described in a publication authored by James A. Hudson, Slaughter at Attica: The Complete Inside Story (New York: Lopez Publication, 1971), 34. Copy in the personal archives of Jamie Valone.

  3. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 11.

  4. Ibid., 11; Robert Douglass, Deposition, “Special Inquiry into the Attica Investigation” (hereafter referred to as the Meyer Commission), June 20, 1975, Mineola, New York, 2907, FOIA request #110818 of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, FOIA pp. 000253–000254.

  5. McKay Report, p.188.

  6. Major J. W. Monahan, Troop Commander, Memorandum to Superintendent W. E. Kirwin, Subject: “Attica Correctional Facility,” September 19, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 86, New York State Archives, Albany, New York, 1.

  7. Ibid.

  8. Judge Robert M. Quigley, Final Order, Lynda Jones, Individually and as Administratrix of the Estate of Herbert W. Jones, Jr., Deceased v. State of New York, State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 96 A.D.2d 105 (N.Y. App. Div. 1983), Rochester, New York, August 31, 1982, Archives of William Cunningham, 26, 30. Hereafter referred to as Quigley Order.

  9. “State Police/Attica Riot Chronology,” New York State Police Headquarters, Albany, New York, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York, 1.

  11. ORDER OUT OF CHAOS

  1. Carlos Roche, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller, Russell Oswald, John Monahan, Vincent Mancusi and Karl Pfeil, United States District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York, No. CIV-75-132, October 31, 1991, 1911. Hereafter Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al.

  2. John Stockholm, conversation with author, Lehigh Acres, Florida, July 1, 2005.

  3. Carlos Roche, Testimony, ibid., 1914.

  4. John Schleich, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, March 21, 1972, 11.

  5. Ibid., 13.

  6. Ibid., 14. Also see: M. Eugene Pittman, M.D. Clinical Physician, Memorandum to John B. Wilmont, Acting Superintendent, Elmira Correctional Facility, November 8, 1971, New York State Archives Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  7. Jack Florence, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, February 2, 1972, 39.

  8. Tom Wicker, notes from interview with Roger Champen, undated, Tom Wicker Papers, 5012, Series 1.1, Box 2, Southern Historical Collection, Manuscripts Department, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 19. Hereafter referred to as Tom Wicker Papers.

  9. Ibid.

  10. “Inmates in D Yard Survey Statistics,” Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 88, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  11. Wicker, notes from interview with Roger Champen, undated.

  12. “Inmates in D Yard Survey Statistics,” New York State Archives.

  13. According to Richard X Clark there were about thirty to forty Black Muslims at Attica. See: Richard X Clark, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., United States District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York, No. CIV-75-132, October 25, 1991, 112.

  14. As quoted in: “Five Deadly Days,” reprinted from the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), Tom Wicker Papers.

  15. Eugene Smith, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 31, 2002, 39–40.

  16. Gary Walker, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 31, 2002, Albany, New York, 63.

  17. Eugene Smith, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 31, 2002, 37.

  18. Walker, Testimony, Attica Task Force Hearing, July 31, 2002, 63.

  19. Wicker, notes from interview with Roger Champen, undated, 20.

  20. Ibid.

  21. Ibid.

  22. Charles Horatio Crowley, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, May 24, 1972, Erie County courthouse, 45.

  23. Mariano “Dalou” Gonzalez, Interview by Michael D. Ryan, 7.

  24. Florence, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, February 2, 1972, 47.

  25. Frank “Big Black” Smith, Interview by Jennifer Gonnerman, “Remembering Attica,” Village Voice, September 5–11, 2001.

  26. Charles “Flip” Crowley, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, May 24, 1972, 70.

  27. John Schleich, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of
the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, March 21, 1972, 19–20.

  28. Crowley, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, May 24, 1972, 64.

  29. Carl Rinney, Testimony, In the Matter of the Additional, Special and Trial Term of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Designated Pursuant to the Order of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. County of Wyoming, March 28, 1972, Erie County courthouse, 33–34.

  30. Ibid.

  31. Richard X Clark, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., October 25, 1991, 131.

  32. Ibid., 132.

  33. Ibid., 133.

  34. George Nieves, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al, United States District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York, No. CIV-75-132, November 19, 1991, 4652. For a complete list of the fifteen “practical proposals” that the men in D Yard wrote up on September 9, as well as their determination whether each individual demand was “a short range goal” or “something that had to be dealt with later,” see Appendix A. Also see: Clark, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., October 25, 1991, 137–45.

  35. Ibid., 135.

  12. WHAT’S GOING ON

  1. Vincent Mancusi, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., United States District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York, No. CIV-75-132, December 17, 1991, E-9223.

  2. Ibid., E-9242–E-9243.

  3. Ibid., E-9243.

  4. Ibid., E-9244.

  5. Russell Oswald, Testimony, in loc. cit., read posthumously into the record on January 2, 1992, 10805.

  6. Ibid.

  7. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 13.

  8. Herman Schwartz, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 19, 1972, 498.

  9. Russell Oswald, Attica—My Story (New York: Doubleday, 1972), 84.

  10. Ibid.

  11. Herman Schwartz, Personal Diary recorded so that he would remember all that he witnessed and experienced during the Attica uprising, transcript, taped originally on September 12, 19, and 24, 1971. In author’s possession.

  12. Schwartz, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 19, 1972, 520.

  13. Arthur O. Eve, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., United States District Court, Western District of New York, Buffalo, New York, No. CIV-75-132, November 6, 1991, 2709.

  14. Ibid.

  15. Schwartz, Personal Diary, September 12, 19, 24, 1971, 3.

  16. All Inmates of Attica Correctional Facility to Richard N. [sic] Nixon and Nelson Rockerfeller [sic], “Immediate Demands,” September 9, 1971, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Copy of original typed in D Yard complete with handwritten additions by Arthur O. Eve.

  17. Richard X Clark, The Brothers of Attica (New York: Links Books, 1973), 67.

  18. Tom Wicker, Notes from interview with Roger Champen, undated, Tom Wicker Papers.

  19. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 14.

  20. Schwartz, Personal Diary, September 12, 19, 24, 1971, 4.

  21. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 14.

  22. Oswald, Attica—My Story, 86.

  23. Schwartz, Personal Diary, September 12, 19, 24, 1971, 5.

  24. Oswald, Attica—My Story, 88.

  25. Monahan Memorandum to Kirwan, September 19, 1971.

  26. Official Call Log (also known as “the Van Eekeren Tapes”), Headquarters, New York State Police, Albany, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.

  27. Oswald, Testimony, Akil Al-Jundi et al. v. The Estate of Nelson A. Rockefeller et al., read posthumously into the record on January 2, 1992, 10816–17.

  28. For a complete list of everyone who came into Attica (time in, time out, and dates), see: “Visitor’s Log,” Attica uprising–related documents kept at the Attica Correctional Facility, Attica, New York.

  29. Technical Sergeant F. D. Smith, New York State Police Memorandum to Major Sergeant Chieco, Subject: “Special Assignment—Attica Correctional Institute,” September 9–14, 1971, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.

  30. “WBAI Transcript of Speeches Made in D Yard,” March 6, 1972, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Also see: copy of original typed version of at least portions of Barkley’s speech complete with some notations and modifications in the area addressing which observers the inmates wanted called to the prison. Penciled in was the addition of Pablo “Yoruba” Guzman of the Young Lords Party and Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, L. D. Barkley, “We are Men,” speech, investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  31. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 16.

  32. Ibid.

  33. “Practical Proposals,” copy of original typed list, Investigation and interview files, 1971–1972, New York (State), Special Commission on Attica, 15855-90, Box 84, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

  34. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 17; Oswald, Attica—My Story, 93.

  35. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 17.

  36. Ibid., 16.

  37. Ibid.

  38. Ibid.

  39. Ibid.

  40. There are numerous FBI memos addressed to, or forwarded to, these government officials. See, for example: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Communications Section, Buffalo, Teletype to Director, Domestic Intelligence Section, Stamped: “Included in summary to White House and Attorney General,” September 9, 1971. Also see: Domestic Intelligence Division, “Informative Note,” September 10, 1971. This summarizes current riot details and then reads: “Information being included in the summary to the White House, the Attorney General, Secret Service and military agencies. Copy being sent to Inter-Division Intelligence Unit, Internal Security and Civil Rights Division of Department.” All documents obtained through FOIA request #1014547-000 of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

  41. Albany, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Communications Section Teletype to Director, Buffalo, September 16, 1971, FOIA request #1014547-000 of the FBI.

  42. Buffalo Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Communications Section Teletype to Director, Domestic Intelligence Division, CC: White House and Attorney General, CC: Mr. Sullivan for the Director, 11:58 p.m., September 9, 1971, FOIA request #1014547-000 of the FBI.

  43. Ibid.

  44. For one of the most recent histories of the FBI’s deliberate destabilization of radical organizations see: Seth Rosenfeld, Subversives: The FBI’s War on Student Radicals, and Reagan’s Rise to Power (New York: Picador, 2013).

  45. Domestic Intelligence Division, “Informative Note,” September 10, 1971, FOIA request # 1014547-000 of the FBI.

  46. Ibid.

  13. INTO THE NIGHT

  1. Malcolm McLaughlin, “Storefront Revolutionary: Martin Sostre’s Afro-Asian Bookshop, Black Liberation Culture, and the New Left, 1964–75.” The Sixties: A Journal of History, Politics and Culture 7, no. 1 (2014).

  2. Herman Schwartz, Personal Diary, September 12, 19, and 24, 1971. In author’s possession, 7.

  3. Richard X Clark, The Brothers of Attica
(New York: Links Books, 1973), 68.

  4. Ibid., 72.

  5. Schwartz, Personal Diary, September 12, 19, 24, 1971. 8.

  6. Dr. Warren Hanson, interviewed by Joe Heath and John Straithorp, Interview Report Sheet, December 3, 1974, Ernest Goodman Papers, Box 7, Walter Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Hereafter Walter Reuther Library. Also see: Warren Hanson, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 289.

  7. Dr. Warren Hanson, interviewed by Joe Heath and John Straithorp, Interview Report Sheet, December 3, 1974. Also see: Hanson, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 289.

  8. Hanson, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 295.

  9. Ibid.

  10. On the exact location of each hostage in the hostage circle, see: Investigator Joe Mercurio, State of New York Attica Investigation Memorandum to Anthony G. Simonetti, Subject: “Circle Case,” July 26, 1974, in the papers of Elizabeth M. Fink, Brooklyn, New York.

  11. Hanson, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 292.

  12. Ibid., 295.

  13. Clark, The Brothers of Attica, 71.

  14. Dr. Warren Hanson, interviewed by Joe Heath and John Straithorp, Interview Report Sheet, December 3, 1974.

  15. Hanson, Testimony, McKay Transcript, April 18, 1972, 297.

  16. Ibid., 303.

  17. Warren H. Hanson, “Attica: the Hostages’ Story,” New York Times, October 31, 1971.

  18. Rockefeller Administration, Confidential Memo, “Events at Attica: September 8–13, 1971,” 17.

  19. Ibid., 18.

  20. Ibid., 19.

  21. Larry Lyons, conversation with author, Lehigh Acres, Florida, July 1, 2005.

  22. Donald Almeter, conversation with author, July 3, 2005.

  23. John Stockholm, conversation with author, July 1, 2005.