April 5th 2024.
A group of inmates in New York have successfully fought for their right to witness the upcoming solar eclipse, just like the rest of the nation. These inmates took legal action against the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, claiming that their constitutional rights were being violated. Their lawsuit, filed on March 29th in federal court, argued that the Woodbourne Correctional Facility was infringing on their religious freedom by classifying the eclipse as a holiday.
In prison, holidays typically mean that inmates are confined to their cells from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., which coincides with the usual time that outdoor activities are scheduled. This would mean that the inmates would miss out on the rare opportunity to witness the eclipse. One of the plaintiffs, a man named Jeremy Zielinski who identifies as an atheist, argued that the eclipse holds great religious significance for many people. He compared it to similar instances in the Bible and Islamic texts.
The six plaintiffs, who come from various religious backgrounds, were able to reach a favorable settlement with the corrections department on April 4th. The department claimed that they were already reviewing religious requests to view the eclipse, including those of the six inmates named in the lawsuit. They stated that they continued to review and analyze these requests during the lawsuit. In the end, the department agreed to allow the six individuals to witness the eclipse.
The attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Chris McArdle, Sharon Steinerman, and Madeline Byrd of Alston & Bird, expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the case. They released a statement saying that they were pleased that the state of New York had entered into a binding settlement agreement, which would allow their clients to witness the eclipse in accordance with their religious beliefs. This news was reported by NBC News.
The solar eclipse, where the moon will obscure the sun, is set to take place on April 8th. It will be the first visible solar eclipse in the United States since August 2017. Although Woodbourne is not in the path of the total eclipse, the moon will still cover the sun around 3:25 p.m., providing a unique viewing opportunity for those in the area. The next solar eclipse that can be viewed in the U.S. won't happen until 2044.
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