A memoir by a man who was at the center of the prison riot at Attica in the 1970's resulting in death and mayhem. A short takeover by prisoners who held guards hostages and demanded to be treated as humans was met with derision and a governor who would not back down. Not wanting to be seen as weak, Nelson Rockefeller approved breaking up the stalemate with fire power. Thirty nine inmates and hostages were killed. Following the standoff, prisoners involved were beaten and tortured for a long time. Frank Smith was one of those who suffered at the hands of prison guards and officials. Within a short period of time, all charges were dropped against inmates when deaths were discovered to have been 100% at the hands of the troops that stored the prison. A lawsuit settled many years later awarded a settlement to the prisoners. Frank Smith continued to suffer from PTSD until his death in 2004. His legacy post prison was exemplary as he worked as an investigator, a drug counselor and became a notable prison reform activist. In a lot of ways this was a tough read. Also, viewed from the lens of 2020, you wonder if things have changed.
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