These New York Prisoners Aren’t Allowed to Watch the Solar Eclipse, Now They Are Suing the State

Earlier this week it was reported that New York State prisons would be on lockdown during the Solar Eclipse, which is expected to pass over portions of the Empire State on Monday April 8, 2024. Now some of the prisoners are suing the State.

6 prisoners being held at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County are now suing the State of New York with the claim that the Solar Eclipse is a "religious event" and they should be allowed to watch.

The plaintiffs include a Baptist, a Muslim, a Seventh-Day Adventist, two practitioners of Santeria and an atheist. These individuals are asking a judge to order the corrections department to retract the lockdown memo and provide eclipse glasses to all inmates who wish to view the eclipse.

The Guardian reports that the prisoners complaints states that “A solar eclipse is a rare, natural phenomenon with great religious significance to many,”.

Criminon defines "lockdown" as a period of time when prisoners are restricted to their cells for 22 to 24 hours per day. Typically, during this time, prisoners would not have access to exercise or recreation and they would not be allowed visitors such as family, friends or lawyers.

In most cases a prison will be locked down due to a prison escape, a riot or perhaps even a violent act within the prison walls. These lockdowns are usually short-term situations.