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Inmates in New York are taking legal action against the state corrections department over its decision to implement a lockdown during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in upstate New York, asserts that the lockdown violates inmates’ constitutional rights to practice their faiths by depriving them of participation in a significant religious event.
The plaintiffs, comprising individuals from various religious backgrounds incarcerated at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility, argue that the solar eclipse holds profound religious significance for many belief systems. Citing references from sacred texts and religious teachings, they contend that the eclipse warrants gathering, celebration, worship, and prayer.
Among the plaintiffs is an atheist who initially received permission to view the eclipse using state-provided glasses. However, subsequent requests from others were denied, with officials citing that the eclipse is not recognized as a holy day for their respective religions.
The corrections department, represented by spokesperson Thomas Mailey, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation but stated that requests for religious accommodations, including those related to viewing the eclipse, are being reviewed. Acting Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III announced a holiday schedule for state correctional facilities on the day of the eclipse, limiting movement and visitation during the eclipse’s peak viewing hours.
Despite the restrictions, the department plans to distribute solar eclipse safety glasses to both staff and inmates in prisons located in the path of totality, facilitating observation from assigned locations within the facilities. Communities in western and northern parts of New York, including Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, are anticipated to experience optimal viewing conditions during the eclipse, which is expected to occur around 3:15 p.m. and last for a brief duration.
