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This episode features descriptions of physical and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.

We've got the shift commander hostage. There had better be a meeting with the governor,

the news media and Rodriguez.

Those are the words that came over the two way radios inside New Mexico States penitentiary.

Just minutes after the inmates had assumed control. At around 1.30 a.m. on the morning of

February 2nd, 1980, a dozen or so inmates had done just that. Jumping a group of guards

in their blacked out day room during the evening headcount. Those four guards, in addition

to three more patrolling in nearby hallway, were taken captive. They were now hostages

in an uprising that had been years in the making. The inmates, who were now attempting

to communicate with other prison officials, had quickly expanded through the south side

of the prison. More than 500 prisoners had been freed and were now arming themselves,

preparing for a long and bloody siege. In this radio call, the prisoners were demanding

a meeting with New Mexico governor Bruce King, deputy secretary of corrections and former

warden Felix Rodriguez, and members of the media itself. They were hoping to air out

all of the dirty laundry from the past few years, and were threatening widespread violence

if they did not get their way. However, even as some inside the prison prepared to bring

this list of grievances to the media, others were planning to seize this opportunity given

...