Six violent felons incarcerated at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York are suing for the right to view next week’s total solar eclipse, despite a statewide prison lockdown. The inmates, representing various religious beliefs including Baptist, Muslim, Seventh-Day Adventist, Santeria practitioners, and an atheist, argue that not allowing them to witness the event would infringe on their constitutional religious rights. They claim that the eclipse holds religious significance to them and that they must reflect on it to observe their faiths.
The lawsuit was filed against the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and its officials, following a directive from Acting DOC Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III, mandating that all inmates remain in housing units during the eclipse. Inmate Jeremy Zielinski, an atheist serving time for rape, had initially been granted permission to view the eclipse but had it revoked due to the lockdown. The eclipse is significant to his faith as an atheist, as he believes in celebrating science and reason.
Another inmate, Jean Desmarat, serving time for second-degree murder, is a Muslim who believes that his constitutional rights will be violated if he is not allowed to view the eclipse. Desmarat pointed out the mention of an eclipse in the Muslim book of Hadith and argues that it is essential for him to observe the event. David Haigh, a Seventh-day Adventist locked up for first-degree manslaughter, interprets passages in the Bible about darkness during Jesus Christ’s crucifixion as an eclipse. He believes observing the eclipse is key to his faith.
The significance of the solar eclipse extends to other inmates as well, including Baptist Travis Hudson, convicted of first-degree course of sexual conduct with a child, and two Santeria practitioners, Bruce Moses, and Oscar Nuñez. Moses, convicted of assault and drug possession, wishes to make a spiritual offering during the eclipse, while Nuñez, incarcerated for attempted murder and robbery, wants to pray and chant to the moon and sun for blessings. All six inmates are eligible for parole before 2029.
The Department of Corrections has stated that the lockdown is intended to ensure the safety of prisoners and staff, but eclipse safety glasses will be distributed to inmates in the path of totality who can view the event from inside. The inmates’ religious requests related to viewing the eclipse are currently under review. Despite the lockdown, the inmates are determined to exercise their constitutional rights to observe the eclipse according to their religious beliefs.
The attorneys representing the Woodbourne inmates and the New York State Office of the Attorney General could not immediately be reached for comment on the lawsuit. The inmates continue to fight for their right to view the upcoming solar eclipse, citing its religious importance to their diverse faiths. The rare natural phenomenon holds deep significance for the inmates, who believe that witnessing it is an essential aspect of their religious practices and must not be denied to them during their time in prison.
