On September 13, 1971, nearly 1 police and prison guards stormed the Attica State Prison in New York State to quell one of the largest prison riots in American history.

Nine hostages and more than 30 prisoners were killed by police bullets during the attack. The rebellion had broken out on September 9, when a group of prisoners refused to be divided into smaller groups to carry out the usual morning chores.

The riot spread, as prisoners began breaking windows and burning prison furniture. Within hours, 1 prisoners joined the revolt and took dozens of prison employees hostage.

The decision to send in the police came four days after difficult talks on the release of the hostages failed.

The inmates had presented officials with a list of demands, including better medical care, the lifting of censorship on reading materials, religious freedom and a "real rehabilitation" program to prepare inmates for life outside prison walls. Officials complied with some of the requests.

However, the officials opposed the prisoners' demands that they not be tried for the death of the prison guards and for participating in the rebellion./KosovaPress/