Marin County Civic Center attacks facts for kids

The Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California, United States, was the site of two serious events in 1970. These events were connected to growing racial problems in California's prison system. On August 7, 1970, a 17-year-old named Jonathan P. Jackson tried to force the release of prisoners known as the Soledad Brothers. One of these prisoners was his older brother, George Jackson.

Jonathan Jackson did this by taking a judge, Harold Haley, hostage from the Marin County Civic Center. As the kidnappers tried to leave with five hostages in a car, a shootout happened with the police. Four people died, including Jonathan Jackson and Judge Haley. Three other people were hurt. This event was widely reported in the news. Later, Angela Davis, a former professor with connections to the Jackson brothers, was also involved in the investigation and trial. She owned the weapons used but said she did not know about the plan.

On October 8 of that year, a group called the Weathermen set off explosives at the Civic Center. They did this to support the earlier incident.

Trouble at Soledad Prison

Problems Begin at Soledad

In the summer of 1969, a prisoner named W.L. Nolen at Soledad Prison in California started a petition. He wanted to sue the prison's leader, Cletus J. Fitzharris. Nolen claimed that guards and officials knew about racial problems and made them worse. He said they filed false reports and left cells unlocked to put Black inmates in danger. Nolen stated he feared for his life.

Shootings at Soledad Prison (January 1970)

On January 13, 1970, three Black prisoners were shot and killed at Soledad Prison. A corrections officer named Opie G. Miller fired the shots. The prisoners who died were W.L. Nolen, Cleveland Edwards, and Alvin Miller.

Prison officials said a fight started during an exercise time for 15 inmates. Two white inmates were beaten. Officer Miller said he was afraid people would be seriously hurt. Officials later thought the fight was about race. Officer Miller, who was a good shot, fired at the prisoners without a warning shot.

Inmates said that guards had intentionally mixed white and Black prisoners who were known to have racial conflicts. They claimed a fight was expected. This exercise period was the first time in months that different racial groups had been together in the yard. Inmates also said guards stopped them from taking the wounded prisoners to the hospital. They claimed the victims bled for nearly twenty minutes before getting help.

The next day, 13 Black inmates started a hunger strike. They wanted a federal investigation into Officer Miller's actions. A few days later, an all-white jury cleared Officer Miller of any wrongdoing. None of the Black inmates who saw the shootings were asked to speak.

More Violence at Soledad Prison

After the January shootings, racial tensions grew even more violent at Soledad. On March 16, 1970, two white guards were held hostage by five inmates. Tear gas was used to free them.

On July 23, 1970, a white guard, William H. Shull, was found killed. Six days later, the body of a white prisoner, Roy William Turner, was found in his cell.

Marin County Civic Center Attack (August 7, 1970)

In August 1970, a group connected to the Soledad Brothers planned an attack on the Marin County courthouse. They wanted to demand George Jackson's release from prison. The attack happened during a trial for James McClain, who was accused of stabbing a prison guard. Judge Haley was leading this trial.

The person in charge of the kidnapping was Jonathan P. Jackson, George Jackson's 17-year-old younger brother. Two days before the kidnapping, Angela Davis, a former teacher, bought a shotgun. The shotgun's barrel was cut short to make it easier to hide.

The Day Before the Attack

The day before the kidnapping, Angela Davis and Jonathan Jackson were seen near the Marin Courthouse in a rented yellow van. Jonathan Jackson went into the courtroom where James McClain's trial was happening. Jackson wore a long raincoat, even though it was hot. The van had engine problems, so they took it to a gas station for repairs.

The Attack Begins

On Friday, August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson returned to the courthouse in the yellow van. He entered the courtroom again wearing the long raincoat. He brought three guns, which were registered to Angela Davis, into the Hall of Justice.

Jackson sat with the people watching the trial for a few minutes. Then, he opened his bag, pulled out a pistol, and threw it to James McClain. Jackson then pulled a rifle from his raincoat. McClain held the pistol to Judge Haley's head. Jackson told everyone to lie on the floor. Another prisoner, Ruchell Cinque Magee, helped free three other prisoners from their holding cell. A couple with a baby was also forced into the judge's room.

After being freed, a fourth man, William A. Christmas, joined the kidnappers. Judge Haley was forced to call the sheriff, Louis P. Mountanos. The kidnappers hoped this would stop the police from interfering. They put road flares, which looked like dynamite, against Judge Haley's neck. These were then replaced with a shotgun taped under his chin. The kidnappers then took four more hostages: Deputy District Attorney Gary Thomas and jurors Maria Elena Graham, Doris Whitmer, and Joyce Rodoni. They tied them with piano wire.

Leaving the Courthouse

The four kidnappers and five hostages moved into the courthouse hallway. Many police officers were now there, but they did not act. A photographer arrived and was told by one of the kidnappers, "You take all the pictures you want. We are the revolutionaries." The photographer took many pictures of the group.

The group then went into an elevator. They told the police they wanted the Soledad Brothers freed by 12:30 that day. When the hostages were forced outside, Judge Haley asked where they were going. He was told they were going to the airport to get a plane. The kidnappers then forced the hostages into a rented Ford van. They started to drive towards the freeway.

The Shootout

Police had set up a roadblock outside the Civic Center. As Jonathan Jackson drove the van away, James McClain, who was in the front passenger seat, shot at the police. The police shot back. Judge Haley died. Gary Thomas, one of the hostages, grabbed a gun from Jackson and started shooting at the kidnappers. A gunfight followed. Three of the kidnappers were killed. Ruchell Magee was the only kidnapper to survive. Prosecutor Thomas was seriously injured and became paralyzed. Maria Elena Graham, one of the jurors, was shot in the arm.

What Happened Next

Four people died during the Civic Center shooting. Judge Harold Haley died from wounds caused by Ruchell Magee and from Sheriff Louis Mountanos. Jonathan Jackson and William Christmas were killed by the police. Prosecutor Thomas and Deputy David Mori shot James McClain, killing him. They also seriously wounded Ruchell Cinque Magee. Prosecutor Thomas was badly hurt and paralyzed by bullets fired from prison guards. Maria Elena Graham, a juror, was shot in the arm.

Angela Davis was wanted by the FBI in August 1970 for kidnapping and murder.

After the events of August 7, a warrant was issued for Angela Davis's arrest. She became a fugitive and left California. She tried to hide from the police by changing her appearance. On October 13, 1970, FBI agents found her in New York City. President Richard Nixon praised the FBI for catching "the dangerous terrorist, Angela Davis."

Angela Davis with Valentina Tereshkova

Davis was accused of helping with the kidnapping and murder. In 1972, she was tried and found not guilty on all charges.

Ruchell Magee pleaded guilty to kidnapping. In return, the murder charge against him was dropped. Magee later tried to change his plea but was unsuccessful. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1975. He is still in prison and has tried many times to be released on parole.

On October 8, 1970, the Marin County Civic Center was bombed. A group called the Weathermen said they were responsible. They did this because of the killing of Jackson and the other kidnappers.

In 1971, George Jackson was shot and killed at San Quentin Prison during an escape attempt. Officials said Jackson had a pistol and was trying to escape with other prisoners. During this event, three prison officers and two other inmates were killed. Six of the inmates, known as the San Quentin Six, were later tried for their part in the escape attempt.

The parents of Cleveland Edwards, Alvin Miller, and W.L. Nolen later sued Officer Opie G. Miller. They sued him for the deaths of their sons during the Soledad Prison shooting in January 1970. In 1975, the families received a total of $270,000 from the state of California. A jury decided that eight prison employees had caused the inmates' deaths.