ATTICA, N.Y. — ​Attica means many things. It’s a place and a prison, and a dark memory for this country.

America’s worst prison riot happened in a small community in Western New York where a state prison still runs. It’s where 10 prison hostages and 29 inmates died after a four-day standoff 50 years ago.

This week, in a series of special reports, Spectrum News 1 will look back at what happened in the uprising and why there are those still fighting for answers.

In the first part of the series, Spectrum News 1 reporter Jim Aroune takes us back to September 9, 1971, and provides a look at the events that unfolded.

Coming up next in our 50th anniversary series, hear the story of William Quinn, the first prison guard killed in the uprising and how his daughter is now co-authoring a book. Our special series continues Tuesday at 5 p.m.