9. The Santa Fe Prison Uprising and Response (1980)
In February 1980, the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe experienced a violent uprising, resulting in the deaths of 33 inmates and injuries to over 100 others. The National Guard and military advisors were called in to restore order. Excessive force and coordination errors during the intervention led to civilian deaths. State officials minimized military involvement for years, and the full extent of the tragedy remained little-known for decades. For more information, refer to the New Mexico Historic Sites article on the Santa Fe prison riot. (nmhistoricsites.org)
