How 6 inmates won a legal battle to watch the solar eclipse after prison officials said no

The inmates were subsequently allowed to witness the total solar eclipse.

Inmates at a New York prison secured the right to witness the total solar eclipse on Monday through a lawsuit after they were initially denied the viewing. Faced with the prospect of being confined during the celestial event, six inmates filed a lawsuit against the state corrections department, arguing that the proposed lockdown violated their religious rights.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in upstate New York, stated the religious significance of the eclipse for individuals of various faiths and said they must be allowed to watch the eclipse. Represented by attorney Christopher L. McArdle, the plaintiffs, including a Baptist, a Muslim, a Seventh-Day Adventist, two practitioners of Santeria, and an atheist, stood united in their plea to experience the astronomical spectacle in accordance with their beliefs.

According to Thomas Mailey, a spokesperson for the corrections department, the agreement reached on Thursday ensured that the inmates can observe the solar eclipse without hindrance.

"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," remarked McArdle in a statement to USA TODAY.

The resolution followed heightened scrutiny and controversy surrounding the department's decision to impose a lockdown during the eclipse, prompting widespread concerns and legal action from the incarcerated individuals.

From Christian interpretations linking the event to the darkness accompanying Jesus' crucifixion to Islamic references describing the passing of Prophet Muhammad's son, the eclipse holds connotations across diverse faiths. Even for atheists among the plaintiffs, the eclipse represents a moment of awe and reverence for the natural wonders of the universe.

The legal battle, culminating in a favourable outcome for the inmates, allowed the inmates to view the total eclipse on Monday.