Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Atlanta, Georgia: Bill Whitaker) Scenes shown of fire set by protesting Cuban inmates at federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. Nos. cited of dead and hostages taken. Negotiations reported at deadlock. [Warden Joseph PETROVSKY - discusses negotiations.] Inmates' demands announced. Inmate's radio comments quoted. [Representative John LEWIS - says blood bath must be avoided.] Those inmates not part of the insurrection reported moved to more secure sector of prison. Scenes shown of inmates' families protesting in front of prison. [Inmate's wife Janet LUGO - says her husband said they were holding out for their demands.] Inmates' wives reported calling Justice Department pleading their husbands remain in US. [Assoc. attorney general Stephen TROTT - says violence will only damage the Cubans' position in this cntry.] [Inmate's wife Elida DOMINGUEZ - pleads hostages be released.] Inmates'lack of response noted to Attorney General Edwin Meese's proposed moratorium on immigration agreement with Cuba. Prison officials' comments quoted.

(Oakdale, LA: Bruce Hall) Scenes shown of armed prisoners patrolling prison grounds in Oakdale, LA. Negotiations reported at stalemate. Scenes shown of guards spraying prisoners with water hoses. [Warden J.R. JOHNSON - discusses inmates' paranoia.] Hostage number listed. Johnson's comments quoted regarding Cubans' disbelief in Meese's proposal. [JOHNSON - says Cubans' are afraid they will be deported.] Inmates' families shown awaiting any news from prison. [Coalition for Cuban Detainees Steven DONZIGER - discusses probability of armed conflict.] Scenes shown of American flag hoisted inside prison and patriotic graffiti on prison walls. Armed guards shown waiting for order to storm prison.

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Atlanta, Georgia: Peter Van Sant) 1980 Mariel boatlift and subsequent imprisonment of Cuban illegal immigrants recalled; details given, scenes shown. Riots reported believed inevitable outcome to situation. [Inmate's wife Gladys MIRANDA - says the prisoners were treated like animals in Atlanta, penitentiary [Inmate's wife Jane OCHOA - says courts ruled detainees could be held in prison forever.] Atlanta penitentiary reported most violent of all fed. prisons. No. of Cuban murders and suicides in Atlanta prison mentioned. [Federal judge Marvin SHOOB - says Cubans have been mistreated and it is not surprising they began to riot.] Shoot's rulings reported overturned granting constitutional rights to Cubans. [Inmate Herardo MANSOUR - (thru translator) says returning to Cuba means persecution and certain death.] [Inmate's WIFE - says Cubans are fighting for their freedom. Cubans' perilous situation described.