Uploaded September 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
When the prison riot at Attica culminated in a violent siege between prisoners and state authorities on September 13, 1971, Gabe Pressman was outside the facility with NBC News cameras. This Video of the Week shows armed troopers approaching the prison as Correctional Services Commissioner Russell Oswald tells the press that negotiations have reached a dead end. Through this compelling archival footage from the field, we see the outrage of correctional officers after the incident left several of their colleagues dead, as well as the widespread confusion about how hostages were killed. All told, at least 40 people lost their lives in this tragic and pivotal moment in the American prison system.
Check out our Compilations page for more stirring footage of the riots and protests that shaped the past half century.
Go to NBCUniversalArchives.com to license any portion of this video.
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When the prison riot at Attica culminated in a violent siege between prisoners and state authorities on September 13, 1971, Gabe Pressman was outside the facility with NBC News cameras. This Video of the Week shows armed troopers approaching the prison as Correctional Services Commissioner Russell Oswald tells the press that negotiations have reached a dead end. Through this compelling archival footage from the field, we see the outrage of correctional officers after the incident left several of their colleagues dead, as well as the widespread confusion about how hostages were killed. All told, at least 40 people lost their lives in this tragic and pivotal moment in the American prison system.
Check out our Compilations page for more stirring footage of the riots and protests that shaped the past half century.
Go to NBCUniversalArchives.com to license any portion of this video.
Like Us on Facebook.com/NBCUArchives
Follow us on Twitter.com/NBCUArchives
