Attica Is All of Us: Cornel West on 40th Anniversary of Attica Prison Rebellion

DemocracyNow.org - This week marks the 40th anniversary of another 9/11 tragedy: the Attica prison rebellion. On September 9, 1971, prisoners took over much of state prison in Attica, New York, to protest conditions at the maximum security prison. Then governor, Nelson Rockefeller, ordered state police to storm the facility on the morning of Sept.13. Troopers shot indiscriminately more than 2000 rounds of ammunition, killing 39 male prisoners and guards. After the shooting stopped, police beat and tortured scores of more prisoners, many of whom were seriously wounded, but were initially denied medical care. After a quarter century of legal struggles, the state of New York would eventually award the surviving prisoners of Attica $12 million in damages. Democracy Now! airs an excerpt from a Sept. 9 commemoration at Riverside Church in New York City, "Attica Is All of Us," featuring Dr. Cornel West, professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University and the author of numerous books on race. "Forty years later, we come back to commemorate this struggle against the historical backdrop of a people who happen so terrorized and traumatized and stigmatized that we have been taught to be scared, intimidated, always afraid, distrustful of one another, and disrespectful of one another," West says. "But the Attica rebellion was a counter move in that direction."

For the complete transcript, to download the podcast, or for more information about Democracy Now!, visit http://www.democracynow.org/2011/9/12/attica_is_all_of_us_cornel

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• amy goodman
• democracy now
• dn
• news
• politics
• attica
• cornel west
• princeton
• riverside church
• prison
• prisoners rights
• 40th anniversary

[youngbuck189]

Cornell Fucking West

[lorenare56]

I miss those days when it seemed like everyone was objecting to the status quo. I never thought I would see the day when we have become a passive nation. As bit by bit America digresses into a third world nation, with all its corruption and greed. But yet we sit idlely by.

[freecannabisplease]

96 views... ugh.

[kcandfen]

Thank you Cornell West! We need truth telling everyday.

[RBLA818]

Bless you Mr. West!

[RBLA818]

The only hope is Massive Uprising!!

And the only way that can happen effectively is if ALL the progressive leaders get together and lead a strategy for NON-STOP Demonstrations. People must see a Clear & United leadership, or else they won’t bother.

[RBLA818]

I bet if they just went in, without any shooting, little to no casualties would've occurred. But I guess that's not Macho enough for them.

If you Macho Bullies are so right, why are you always costing us huge judgments? 

[MrHHMMHH]

I was there and it was awesome!

[davidwneal]

OMG I <3 Dr. Cornell West!!!!!

[Raikenbolai]

I can listen to Cornell West.

[tntbadman]

This brotha said "Cacoffiny" though...

boss status...

[ryguy86]

Goddamn Cornell! Every time he talks, he kills it.