Legal dispute between the Ramapough-Lenape and the town of Mahwah by Ines Gimenez Monserrat

December 2016: First order

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:22:05 UTC

The town of Mahwah gave the Ramapoughs notices for not getting the proper permits before building their structures. These included three tall tepees, tents, totem poles, and a cooking area. The Ramapoughs built these as part of their protest against pipelines and said these structures were important for their religious and cultural practices.

November 2017: Court decision

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:26:21 UTC

A Superior Court Judge, Roy F. McGeady, decided that the Ramapoughs broke local laws and fined them $13,000. The judge said they could continue using their land for religious activities and keep their tents there, even though they had to pay the fine. According to the article "Mahwah Violated Ramapough Tribe's Religious Rights" the judge understood that the land was important for their religious practices.

Decemeber 2017: Denial of the Polo Club injunction

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:31:35 UTC

The Ramapo Hunt & Polo Club Association tried to stop the Ramapough tribe from using their land for activities like religious ceremonies and big gatherings. In the article "Judge Denies Ramapo Polo Club's Injunction Against Ramapoughs" the author says that judge Charles Powers rejected this request. This was a win for the Ramapoughs, allowing them to continue using their land, known as the Sweet Water Prayer Site, which they have used for their religious and ceremonial practices for many years.

May 2018: Federal lawsuit

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:32:26 UTC

the Ramapoughs sued the town of Mahwah. Saying claiming that "their First and 14th Amendment constitutional rights were violated and the town has illegally fined them $480,000 in summons fines for illegally erecting structures on the land" (Staff, 2019).

The Ramapoughs asked the court to cancel the fines and let them continue to gather and pray on their land. They also wanted $1 million in damages for their troubles.

July 2024: Department of Justice Statement

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:41:59 UTC

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the town of Mahwah had broken the law by stopping the Ramapoughs from practicing their religion on their land. The law, called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), is meant to protect religious groups from unfair barriers and restrictions.

Zoning violations

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:52:03 UTC

The Ramapoughs built tepees, tents, and other structures without getting the necessary permits from Mahwah, which didn't follow the local rules. They put up these structures to protest against the planned Pilgrim Pipeline. "The town issued 43 summonses against the Ramapoughs. Superior Court Judge Roy F. McGeady ruled last month that the Ramapoughs violated local zoning laws and must pay $13,000 in fines" (Staff, 2017).

Ramapoughs' defense for Religious freedom

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 02:56:27 UTC

The Ramapoughs have always said they should be able to use their land for religious activities because of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the First Amendment. Staff said their "Religious ceremonies, pipe ceremonies, and sweat-lodge sessions are held on the land".

Ramapoughs' defense: the land's historical and cultural importance

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 03:00:07 UTC

They claim that this land is sacred and crucial for their community’s spiritual and cultural traditions. They also argue that the activities they conduct there are essential to their identity and heritage (Staff, 2019).

recent legal ruling

igimenezmonserrat011_1 — 2024-08-19 03:02:01 UTC

The latest decision from the U.S. Department of Justice says that Mahwah broke the Ramapoughs' constitutional rights. They found that Mahwah interfered with the Ramapoughs' right to gather and pray at their Sweet Water site. (Staff, 2019)