In Woodbourne, New York, six prisoners at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility will be allowed to view the upcoming solar eclipse despite a lockdown in place for other state inmates, as reported by the New York Post. The celestial event is set to occur on Monday, April 8, causing a momentary darkness as the moon passes in front of the sun. In anticipation of this spectacle, Airbnb locations along the eclipse’s path are rapidly booking up as more individuals seek to witness the cosmic phenomenon.

A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging the prison lockdown, claiming it violates the First Amendment rights of the six inmates. These prisoners come from a range of religious backgrounds, including Muslim, atheist, Baptist, and Seventh-Day Adventist. The lawsuit argues that events like eclipses hold significance in various religious beliefs, citing examples from the Bible and Islamic texts.

Attorney Chris McArdle, who is representing the inmates, believes that this ruling could set a precedent for allowing more prisoners to view the eclipse. One of the plaintiffs, Jeremy Zielinski, expressed satisfaction with the decision but believes that all prisoners should have the opportunity to witness the event, not just a select few.

Another plaintiff, David Haigh, raised concerns that prison authorities may be selectively granting permission to smaller religious groups to view the eclipse while excluding others. He believes that all inmates should have equal opportunities to view the event.

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