Atlanta Prison Riots
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta Prison Riots were a series of riots that occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary
in Atlanta
, Georgia
, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana
.
had agreed to reinstate a 1984 accord that would permit the repatriation of up to 2,500 Cuban nationals. Included would be Cubans who had fled in the 1980 Mariel boatlift
but who, once released on "immigration parole," had been convicted of a crime and were now detained in one of two Federal prisons. A State Department spokesman indicated that the Federal Bureau of Prisons was not notified of the pending agreement due to concerns about premature disclosure of the agreement.
During the riot, a single Cuban inmate was killed by a Correctional Officer. According to a prison spokesman, the guard shot the inmate to protect a fellow guard.
The Atlanta FBI, led by Weldon L. Kennedy
, was called in to handle the negotiations and gather intel. After the hostage situation was identified, Special Forces
soldiers from Fort Bragg
, NC were sent to advise the civilian law enforcement authorties.
Following negotiations, the majority of inmates voted to a surrender agreement on December 4 and the remaining hostages were released.
Of particular concern to the Federal Bureau of Prisons
during the riots was the whereabouts of inmate Thomas Silverstein
, who at the time was serving a life sentence at USP Atlanta in an isolation cell, following his murder of Federal Prison Guard Merle E. Clutts at USP Marion in October 1983. The Cubans ultimately were able to drug Silverstein, who was loose among the prisoner population during the riots, and turn him over to the Federal authorities while negotiations to terminate the riots were still ongoing.
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
United States Penitentiary, Atlanta is a medium-security federal prison for men in Atlanta, Georgia. It also has a detention center for pre-trial and holdover inmates and an adjacent camp for minimum security male inmates...
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana
Oakdale, Louisiana
Oakdale is a small city in Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,137 at the 2000 census.Oakdale was founded as "Dunnsville" by William T. Dunn...
.
Cause
On November 10, 1987, the U.S. State Department announced that CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
had agreed to reinstate a 1984 accord that would permit the repatriation of up to 2,500 Cuban nationals. Included would be Cubans who had fled in the 1980 Mariel boatlift
Mariel boatlift
The Mariel boatlift was a mass emigration of Cubans who departed from Cuba's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and October 31, 1980....
but who, once released on "immigration parole," had been convicted of a crime and were now detained in one of two Federal prisons. A State Department spokesman indicated that the Federal Bureau of Prisons was not notified of the pending agreement due to concerns about premature disclosure of the agreement.
Riot
Three days after the announcement, the detainees seized control of the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta. Their principal demand was that they not be repatriated to Cuba. The uprising lasted 11 days, involved more than 100 hostages, and burned down a substantial portion of the facility.During the riot, a single Cuban inmate was killed by a Correctional Officer. According to a prison spokesman, the guard shot the inmate to protect a fellow guard.
The Atlanta FBI, led by Weldon L. Kennedy
Weldon L. Kennedy
Weldon Lynn Kennedy was a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and served for 33 years. He is known for his involvement in the Atlanta Prison Riots and the Oklahoma City bombing.He retired as the FBI's No...
, was called in to handle the negotiations and gather intel. After the hostage situation was identified, Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
soldiers from Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, NC were sent to advise the civilian law enforcement authorties.
Following negotiations, the majority of inmates voted to a surrender agreement on December 4 and the remaining hostages were released.
Of particular concern to the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
during the riots was the whereabouts of inmate Thomas Silverstein
Thomas Silverstein
Thomas Silverstein is a convicted American murderer. He has been in prison for armed robbery and has been convicted of four separate murders while imprisoned, one of which was overturned. He has been in solitary confinement since 1983, when he killed prison guard Merle Clutts at the Marion...
, who at the time was serving a life sentence at USP Atlanta in an isolation cell, following his murder of Federal Prison Guard Merle E. Clutts at USP Marion in October 1983. The Cubans ultimately were able to drug Silverstein, who was loose among the prisoner population during the riots, and turn him over to the Federal authorities while negotiations to terminate the riots were still ongoing.