Jeff Haas Speaking at Attica Rally Cook County Jail 1971
After returning from the 1971 Attica Prison Uprising in upstate New York, Jeff Haas spoke at a rally at the Cook County Jail to pass on the stories of the men inside. Their message was a call to prisoners to stand up against brutality and inhumane conditions, and for people on the outside to support their struggle.
You can read an article about the rally published at the time by the Notre Dame & St. Mary’s Observer.
PLO lawyers took the lead in the legal representation of the Attica prisoners. Following the suppression of the uprising and the killing by law enforcement of 39 guards and prisoners, the PLO lawyers were some of the first outsiders to enter the prison. They worked on several cases in which prisoners sought relief from maltreatment and abuse by guards following the riot. PLO lawyers joined with other attorneys to file a civil case for damages on behalf of the prisoners and against the state correctional system. This case continued for years, and eventually resulted in a settlement for the prisoners of $12 million.
On October 14th, last year, Loyola NLG, the Uptown People’s Law Center, and People’s Law Office hosted a panel/discussion about Attica and the prison strike of Summer 2016.
https://nlgchicago.org/blog/loyola-nlg-the-attica-prison-rebellion-its-legacy-and-the-prison-struggle-today/
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