Riot-A violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd; an outbreak of violent civil disorder or lawlessness--Oxford English Dictionary
Forty years ago, on July 27th, 1973, a violent prison riot erupted at the the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. It resulted in four deaths (one death was the result of a heart attack), more than 20 injuries, the destruction of many buildings, and an estimated damage of over $20 million.
Oklahoma Watch, a non-profit organization that produces investigative journalism on public-policy issues facing the state, breaks down the riot and analyzes the problems that continue to afflict our state's corrections institutions.
If you'd like to read more about the riot, you'll find information in these library resources: The Oklahoman Archives, The New York Times: 1851-2009, Twisted Justice A Memoir of Conspiracy and Personal Politics, OK-Prison Riots vertical file, and Oklahoma Corrections History.