Indian inmates say religious rights are being denied (Maine)

[struggle4progress]

February 15, 2007

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — ... Sacred Feather, Native American Circle and 10 inmates filed the lawsuit this month in U.S. District Court. Officials named as defendants include Warden Jeffrey Merrill and the Rev. Matt Kantrowitz, Protestant chaplain at the maximum security prison in Warren.

A similar lawsuit was filed in 2003 and ended in a settlement agreement that expired two years later and called for an outdoor shelter to be provided for religious ceremonies ...

The issue of religious rights for incarcerated Indians also has surfaced in the Legislature, where a bill sponsored by Donald Soctomah, Passamaquoddy tribal representative from Indian Township, has been referred to the Judiciary Committee.

The measure states that failure of a prison or jail to provide "reasonable opportunity" to conduct or take part in Indian religious practices is unlawful discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act and subject to remedies under that statute ...

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070215/NEWS02/702150313/1003/NEWS02

[Broken_Hero]

1. please, if you could, cross post this

in the DU group, for Native Americans....thanks.

link is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=312

If my memory serves me...Native American religion has been banned before...hmm, in the mid 20's, and reinstated as a religion towards the tail end of the 20's. I think its the only religion which has been banned in the USA, but I could be wrong. :) Nice post, thanks...