In 1987, the deadliest prison riot in U.S. history erupted at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, a maximum-security facility notorious for its harsh conditions. Inmates, fed up with the brutal treatment and overcrowding, took control of the prison, sparking a bloody uprising. During the five-day standoff, 29 people, including inmates and staff, lost their lives. The riot also brought to light a secret pact between inmates and prison officials, known as the "Consent Decree," which allowed for systemic abuse and neglect. The exposure of this pact led to reforms aimed at improving conditions for inmates and ensuring their basic human rights.
