Lawyers representing inmates at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York state announced on Thursday that the inmates will be able to view Monday’s solar eclipse following a lawsuit over the matter.
Six inmates at the medium-security men’s prison sued the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision after being denied the opportunity to view the eclipse.
The inmates argued that not allowing them to see the total eclipse would infringe upon their religious rights, as they viewed it as a religious event.
The attorneys involved in the case, Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, and Madeline Byrd of Alston & Bird, confirmed that the corrections department will now permit the inmates to view the eclipse.
Ruth Fremson / The New York Times via Redux
“We are pleased that, in response to our lawsuit alleging religious discrimination, New York State has entered into a binding settlement agreement that will allow our six clients to view the solar eclipse in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” they stated.
The lawsuit, filed last week and now withdrawn, also requested that eclipse glasses be provided.
The acting commissioner of the department, Daniel Martuscello III, had issued a memo on March 11 outlining restrictions for the day of the eclipse, which prompted the lawsuit.
The department confirmed that they have agreed to allow the six individuals at Woodbourne to view the eclipse.
The lawsuit referenced religious texts that mention periods of darkness, such as during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Christianity and an eclipse during a significant event in Islam.
Monday’s solar eclipse will be the first visible in the United States since 2017, with the next one not expected until 2044.
While Woodbourne may not be in the path of the total eclipse, the sun will still be partially covered around 3:25 p.m. according to NASA’s “eclipse explorer” website.
