It stars Bernie Casey, Vonetta McGee, Ron O'Neal, John Lehne, Stu Gilliam, Renny Roker, Owen Pace, Dwan Smith and Martin St. Judge in the lead roles.

[3] The film begins with the events surrounding the arrest and conviction of David Thomas on trumped up charges of armed robbery.

He is soon sent to Mendocino Prison, a facility described as "our number one concentration camp for Black" by David's brother, Josh.

During a court hearing, Josh pulls out a pistol and takes the prosecuting attorney and judge as hostages.

Paula, at the urging of her colleagues, decides to flee and go underground out of fear of prosecution for allegedly aiding and abetting the courthouse actions.

The film ends, rather saccharinely, with all the Mendocino prisoners walking into the chow hall in racially solidarity and sitting together.

The plot tracks closely to the real life events from the mid-1960 to early 1970 including the Marin County Civic Center rebellion, the founding of the Black Guerilla Family, the writings of George Jackson including Blood in My Eye and Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson, and the case of the Soledad Brothers.