Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Atlanta, Georgia: Bill Whitaker) Cuban inmates reported storming federal penitentiary hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. No. given of hostages taken. Pentagon noted sending military advisers and riot troops to scene. [Federal Bureau of Prisons J. Michael QUINLAN - says no steps will be taken toward detainees unless hostages are harmed.] Inmates mentioned requesting television cameras to prove hostages were unharmed. [Hostage Kenny MARTIN - says he wants out but isn't being mistreated.] Inmate's demand list noted. [Cuban inmate Hernando SANCHEZ GARCIA - says he'll hold out until he gets his freedom.] Different Cuban factions noted among inmates; details given, scenes shown. [Released HOSTAGE - says he wasn't harassed.] Some Cuban inmates'surrendering mentioned; scenes shown. Negotiations reported continuing. Negotiations reported making little progress at Oakdale Detention Center in LA. [Senator John BREAUX - discusses negotiations.] No. of Cubans surrendering in Oakdale, Louisiana cited. [Warden J.R. JOHNSON - says there are continuing threats made against the hostages.] Inmates reported suspicious of Attorney General Edwin Meese's proposed moratorium against US-Cuba immigration agreement and rejecting Cuba's amnesty offer.

(Atlanta, Georgia: Peter Van Sant) [Atlanta penitentiary hostage Doug. HOWINGTON - says he's afraid but unharmed.] Scenes shown of Howington family in Brooklyn, New York. [Mother Rosetta HOWINGTON - is praying for son's safety.] [Daughter Rena HOWINGTON - was comforted at the sight of her father.] Cuban inmate riot reviewed. [Daughter of hostage Ariel ACKEY - says was frightened when discovered her father was in fire.] Photos shown of Ackey family. Roosevelt Ackey reported one of nearly one hundred hostages in Atlanta prison. [Son Pren ACKEY - worries military groups pushing the Cubans to violence.] [Ariel ACKEY - says father does not deserve this.] Hostage Bruce Green of Noonan, Georgia, featured. [Friend John CONLEY - says everyone is close.] [Brother Wayne GREEN - says glimmers of hope fade away.] Photos shown of Green family. [Wife Tricia GREEN - fears worst but has hope.] Scenes shown of family and friends trying to comfort each other.

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Studio: Bruce Morton) Scenes shown of former President Jimmy Carter in 1980. [CARTER - announces welcome to Cuban refugees.] [CARTER - (later) says criminals were on board Mariel boatlift and condemns Castro's actions.] US actions toward refugees reviewed; details given, scenes shown. No. of refugees in prison cited on screen. [Former immigration official Doris MEISSNER - says Congress will have to pass law allowing the detainees to stay in United States or send them back to Cuba.] [Executive director ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Ira GLASSER - says riots are direct consequence of injustice.] Reagan administration's offer for individual review mentioned. Detainees' refusal to believe offer noted. [Johns Hopkins Univ. Wayne SMITH - says situation has been carelessly mishandled.] Negotiation difficulties iterated.

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Los Angeles, California: Jerry Bowen) Detectives Mark Fleischmann and Manny Mata shown searching for Cuban criminals. [Cuban CRIMINAL - (thru translator) says has never done anything bad enough to land him in Atlanta penitentiary] 1980 Mariel boatlift reviewed; details given, scenes shown. Minority of refugees reported violent murderers. [Los Angeles, California, police department detective Manny MATA - says Cuban stabbed owner of barking dog several times.] Detectives' estimate of "Marielitos" in Los Angeles, California, noted. Marielito gangs asserted thriving by drug traffic in Las Vegas, NV, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. [Las Vegas, NV, police department sergeant Tom KELLER - says criminals are best of worst who deal in drugs.] Some Marielitos reported going underground fearing deportation to Cuba.