Riot in Cell Block 11

A wave of riots

has swept US prisons.

Within 20 months,

riots have occurred in 35 states.

It began in New Jersey and moved

quickly to Jackson, Michigan.

Here at Michigan penitentiary for

five days the world's largest

walled prison is torn to pieces

by a maddened convicts

who destroy everything

they can put their hands on.

Damage is estimated at $2.5 million.

Then, in Pennsylvania, inmates

seize five guards as hostages

in western state penitentiary.

Damage runs high

as we can see in this in view inside

one of the wrecked cell blocks.

At almost the same time,

231 convicts carry out

a similar rebellion in

New Jersey at the state prison farm.

Here, bed sheets

scrawled with slogans

are hung from broken windows.

The convicts hold out for 4 days

before submitting to authority.

In Chester, Illinois

state police are called.

Ten guards are held as hostages,

three by prisoners in

the psychiatric division.

Here the inmates insist on

speaking only to the Governor

about their grievances.

These riots, costing millions

and millions of tax payer dollars,

have aroused great public interest.

Mr McGee, what in your opinion

is the reason these riots occurred?

I'd like to paraphrase the report

of the American Prison Association

on riots and their causes.

The recent widespread

occurrence of prison riots

is almost always the direct result

of the short-sighted neglect

of our penal institutions, amounting

to almost criminal negligence.

Who's responsible

for this negligence?

Public leaders such as Governors,

legislators and others who must share

the responsibility for prisons as well

as for other branches of government.

And that neglect

includes the public?

Yes, indeed. In the final

analysis, especially the public.

One final question, do you look

to further riots in the future?

I abhor riot and disorder

but until something is done it to

correct the situation we'll not

see the end of prison troubles.

Thank you, Mr McGee.

All over America,

prison officials wonder

where will the next riot occur?

Mac, you ever been

in the punishment block?

No.

Keep your nose clean

or we'll leave you in there.

How is it doing after

a couple of weeks?

I like it. I still can't help

but feeling sorry for these guys.

You'll get over it.

OK with the crosses.

What's so different

about these guys?

X marks the wild animal.

Must be Thursday.

Are you going to feed or ain't ya?

You know what

you can do with that garbage.

- Take it!

This is Auto Tower,

folks, bringing

you the greatest value

in used cars.

We're actually

giving these cars away.

If I'd a-knew that,

I wouldn't be here!

I want you to rush right

down here to 27-30 Main Street.

Get that? 27-30 Main Street.

Right away.

I'm a-comin', boss!

"Don't wait. The right car

for the right price for you."

Thanks.

I've got to find out about my kid.

- Put it in writing to the Warden.

Colonel? Colonel?

Yeah, Frank?

You're up for

parole consideration, aren't you?

That's right.

Do me a favour, when you get out,

find out if my little girl

is still sick.

I'm not out yet.

I got to find out.

I ain't heard in almost two months.

Your wife will write you.

She wont write.

It's the reason I'm in here.

I thought I told you

to take that bush off.

Yes, sir.

Er... 63.

Gotcha.

Barrett speaking.

Block 11. 238.

Hold it a minute.

Go ahead.

'Block 11, 238.'

11, 238. OK, you're in.

Barrett, go ahead.

'Block 4, 637.'

4 block, 637. OK, you're in.

Go ahead, 5.

'Block 5, 433.'

5, 433. OK, you're in.

Oh Lord, God of my salvation, I've

cried day and night before thee,

let my prayer come before thee,

incline thine ear unto my cry,

for my soul is

full of troubles, and my life draws

nigh unto the grave, I am counted

with them that go down into the pit.

I am as a man that hath no strength,

free among the dead like the slain

that lie in the grave,

whom thou remembers no more.

Thou hast laid me in the lowest

pit, in darkness, in the deeps...

Dummy up, will ya!

Knock it off!

- Somebody slug that creep.

Mother!

Mother!

Monroe!

Monroe, 48!

Yeah?

Yeah, what do you want, Schuyler?

They're moving me to a new cell block

tomorrow and I've got a present for

Gator. Would you give it to him?

Yeah, sure.

How d'you make it?

- I got Monroe.

Good, now for the others.

There's four screws tonight,

we've gotta grab them all.

Snader's mine.

No cutting, Carnie. We're going

to keep them alive. That's my plan.

Snader.

Open your trap and we'll

cut you a new one.

You're not supposed

to have this, Snader.

Right, drag him out.

Acton!

Hey! Monroe! Snader!

Hey! Monroe! Snader!

Go ahead.

Schuyler, keep that screw

away from the phone!

Grab his feet.

Hurry up! Let's go!

I want out!

- Let me at the screws!

Open up the cells.

Let me out, Dunn!

Let me out of here!

I can't believe it's happening!

All right! Let's go!

Let's kill those screws!

Where's the screws?!

Barrett speaking.

This is Dunn. We've got 11 block

and four of your guards.

You've got what?

Get the Warden down here or we're

gonna to kill every one of them.

Riot in cell block 11.

What's that?

- What's the sirens for?

I don't know, but I bet it's 11.

I'm sure it's the guys in solitary.

It's a break!

Those guys got guts

enough to try anything.

Well, here we go again.

Yeah, and all for 50 bucks a week.

Doctor Barrett? I've got your open

line to the Governor's office.

Yes, sir, I'll monitor

all calls from 11.

Here's the officer.

Armoury, how many men have checked

in?

Second watch is coming in now.

Good, speed them along. Now here's

the way I want them dispersed.

'Two in one block,

five in three block,'

two unarmed in four block, those

to be armed get rifles and tear gas.

And tell them not

to get itchy fingers.

All right boys,

come on, hurry up.

Watch those itchy fingers.

Captain's orders.

Hello?

Get me through to Barrett.

Well, cut in on him.

Hello. Hello, Barrett?

This is Ambrose, what's up?

A riot in 11 block.

The Warden's on his way down.

I'm at the gate,

I'll wait for the Warden.

Right, I'll meet you in the yard.

All right, take it easy!

That's enough! That's enough!

Dummy up! Shut up!

Knock it off.

All right, cut it out.

Quiet down.

Pipe down.

If we're going to win this,

we gotta have discipline.

Carnie and me are running the show.

We all know what's wrong here.

We're gonna ask for changes,

just like they did the other prisons.

If they don't give it to us,

we'll make them a present

of one dead guard.

Or maybe four!

It may take all of them.

But they'll listen.

Me and some of my friends are only

in here because there ain't

no room for us in any other block.

Now we don't want no trouble.

Lay off!

You're either in or out. OK?

You all covered?

Yes, sir.

All posts covered?

First thing I did.

Doubled up in your building?

- Yes, sir.

Who did they grab in 11?

Snader, Acton, Monroe...

Monroe? Who assigned him

to that block?

It was my suggestion.

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