Racial Issues
At the time of the riots, black militancy was at its peak and many black prisoners had transferred to Attica causing prison population to increase from its designed 1200 prisoners to 2243. 54% of these were African American, 9% Puerto Rican and 37% white; however, all of the 383 correctional officers were white. Some corrections officers were openly racist and assaulted the prisoners with their batons, which they dubbed "nigger sticks". Additionally, George Jackson, a member of the Black Panther Party, had died at the hands of white prison officers 2 weeks before the riot in the San Quentin State Prison in California.
Read more about this topic: Attica Prison Riot
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