On September 9, 1971 nearly 1,300 people took over the Attica Correctional Facility to negotiate for better living conditions, labor rights, and political rights. These negotiations came to an abrupt end when state troopers were sent in and killed 39 people, injured hundreds, and took back control of the prison. Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson pieces together long suppressed documents into the most complete narrative of the Attica uprising, the state’s violent response, and the decades-long long legal battles that ensued. Through it we gain a greater understanding of how our current state of mass incarceration was constructed and insight into movement organizing that can help us connect more deeply to the current moment.
Join us for a book discussion group Mondays in November—11/9, 11/16, 11/23, and 11/30—at 6pm on Zoom.
Please register and sign up to receive news about other BPL virtual programming. Registration is limited to 30 participants, with a waiting list.
This is the fifth installment of Justice Initiatives’ book club. We’ll invite readers to dive into a new title every month, sparking conversations about social justice, dismantling oppressive systems, and fostering collective action.
This event is part of the justice initiatives series.