Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Atlanta, Georgia: Bill Whitaker) Cuban prisoners' reported taking over fed. penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia; details given, scenes shown. Cubans noted gaining control over all but one cell block. [Penitentiary spokesperson Mike CALTABIANO - discusses reenforcements.] Scenes shown of relatives awaiting news. Atlanta penitentiary reported being where most of the Cuban undesirables were placed after the 1980 Mariel boatlift; scenes shown. US- Cuban agreement to deport these undesirables mentioned as triggering riots. [Inmate's wife Elida DOMINGUEZ - says these men would rather die in the US than go back to Cuba.] Fires noted spreading to location believed housing hostages. Rescue attempt noted not possible while inmates remain tense and the fires rage.

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Oakdale, LA: Bruce Hall) Louisiana federal detention facility reported still controlled by rioting Cuban inmates; scenes shown. Swat teams reported ready to enter prison ordered to withdraw. Hostage number cited. [Warden J.R. JOHNSON - says if anyone tries to enter, the inmates will kill the hostages.] Families of hostages shown gathering to pray. [Mother of hostage Beryl RAINS - says she just got home from Florida and did not get to see her son.] Authorities' doubts mentioned regarding negotiations with inmates. [JOHNSON - says they are prepared to do whatever they have to.] Prison reported irreparably damaged; details given, scenes shown.

(DC: Robert Schakne) Attorney General Edwin Meese shown announcing promise to rioting Cuban inmates that they will not be deported for now. [MEESE - offers to declare a moratorium on deporting Cuban prisoners so each individual case can be examined.] Meese's comments quoted regarding a halt to rioting and the release of all hostages. Meese's statement discussed; scenes shown. [Director Bureau of Prisons J. Michael QUINLAN - says he thought they were in control of situation.] Miami, Florida, families of inmates shown boarding buses for Washington, DC to protest deportation. [Inmate wife Milagros GONZALEZ - says her husband did not commit a violent crime and has served his sentence.] Meese's action reported signalling possible reversal of policy toward Cuban undesirables.