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Positive Vibration: 1 An Examination of

Incarcerated Rastafarian Free Exercise

Claims

I. I NTRODUCTION

Similar to the rote!te" ri#ht$ o% %ree"om o% $ ee!h a&" %ree"om o% the re$$' the %ree"om to e(er!i$e reli#io& allo)$ a& i&"i*i"+al to $a,' ri&t'a&" -elie*e )hate*er o&e )i$he$' )ithi& !ertai& re$!ri-e" !o&$trai&t$. 2

U&%ort+&atel,' a& i&"i*i"+al i$ &ot %ree' e*e& i% !om elle" -, a reli#io+$ -elie%' to do )hate*er o&e )i$he$' wherever o&e )i$he$. 3 A$ -e$t $tate" -, i&e Deloria a&" Cli%%or" ,tle' 4 - elie%$ are -e,o&" the rea!h o% the#o*er&me&t &o matter ho) +&ortho"o(' -+t reli#io+$ ra!ti!e$ !a& -e

re#+late" -, the $tate a&" thi$ i$ e$ e!iall, tr+e %or i&!ar!erate"i&"i*i"+al$ ra!ti!i a mi&orit, reli#io&.

5e!a+$e the reli#io+$ ma orit, i& o+r !o+&tr, i$ 7e$ter& i& &at+re8 em-o",i the -elie% o% 9&li#hte&me&t 6 8the :ir$t Ame&"me&t a&" it$!o&!e t o% reli#io& !a& &e*er ro*i"e !om rehe&$i*e rote!tio& to mi&orit,reli#io&$'; $+!h a$ the Ra$ta%ari %aith.< Thi$ i$ tr+e "+e to the %a!t that

1 . 5 O5 MAR 9= > T H9 7 AI 9RS ' Positive Vibration ' on 5 A5= ON 5= 5 US ?T+%%@o/I$la&" Re!or"$ 1 ; C I::ORD =T 9 ' A M9RICAN I NDIANS ' A M9RICAN JUSTIC9 ?1

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136 "R M NAL AN# " V L "'NF N(M(NT ol. 34 3 1ma orit, reli#io&$ o%te& e&!om a$$ -elie%$ i& hi#her "eitie$' )hi!h i$ *er,"i%%ere&t tha& the ro#re$$io& o% the $el% i& ma&, mi&orit, reli#io&$. S+!h$har "i%%ere&!e$ #e&erate "i$!rimi&atio& i& the %orm o% $ele!ti*ei&"i%%ere&!e a&" $ele!ti*e i&$e&$iti*it, to the -+r"e&$ o& the reli#io+$

mi&orit,.10

The :ree 9(er!i$e Cla+$e !o&%ro&t$ the$e i$$+e$ a&" attem t$ to rote!t a&" e&!o+ra#e reli#io+$ "i*er$it,' arti!+larl, )ithi& the e&ali&$tit+tio& )here re#+latio&$ hi&"er a&" re"+!e i&mate ri#ht$. The :ree9(er!i$e Cla+$e' li e the 9$ta-li$hme&t Cla+$e' a lie$ to -oth thei&!ar!erate" reli#io+$ ma orit, a&" mi&orit, o +latio&$. Ho)e*er'reli#io+$ mi&oritie$ are &ot treate" eG+all, +&"er the la) )ith re#ar" to

ri$o& re#+latio&$ that re$tri!t reli#io+$ e(er!i$e. There remai&$ am-i#+it,a&" +&!ertai&t, $+rro+&"i the $ta&"ar" o% a&al,$i$' a$ )ell a$+&%a*ora-le +"i!ial "i$!o+r$e to)ar" reli#io+$ mi&oritie$' e$ e!iall,Ra$ta%ari.

Thi$ Note $ee $ to a""re$$ the -ia$e$ a&" har"$hi $ that i&ter%ere )ithi&!ar!erate" Ra$ta%ari e(er!i$i their reli#io&' &amel, the !hallee too*er!ome re$tri!tio&$ la!e" + o& their er$o&al #roomi a&" eatiha-it$. To ill+$trate $ome o% the har"$hi $ Ra$ta%ari %a!e )he& -rii%ree e(er!i$e !laim$' the a"*er$it, that Nati*e Ameri!a& i&mate$ ha*eo*er!ome i& !hallei $imilar re$tri!tio&$ + o& their ra!ti!e$ )ill -ee(ami&e" a&" !om are" to the Ra$ta%aria& !laim$. 11 Nati*e Ameri!a&$)ere !ho$e& a$ a !om ari$o& -e!a+$e their$ )ere o&!e8a&" i& $ome !a$e$$till are8re#ar"e" a$ a mi&orit, reli#io& -e!a+$e their ra!ti!e$ a&" -elie%$are i&!om rehe&$i-le to ma&, i&"i*i"+al$ )ho ra!ti!e more )i"el,a!!e te" reli#io&$ .12

D+e to the $imilaritie$ -et)ee& Nati*e Ameri!a& a&" Ra$ta%aria&tra"itio&$' i&mate !laim$ are o%te& i"e&ti!al' )hi!h i$ $i#&i%i!a&t -e!a+$e

throughout [that] article use the term Rastafarianism when referring

to the religion as an entity distinct from its followers, who arereferred to as Rastafari. However, it should be noted that followers ofthe Rastafari faith would not themselves approve of this terminology,as they do not recognise any form of ism. B. Thro+#ho+t thi$ arti!le' thea+thor +$e$ the term Ra$ta%ari a$ a ro er &o+& i& re%ere&!e to the %ollo)er$ a&" the %aith'e(!e t )he& +$e" i& the %ollo)i &o+& hra$e$ the Ra$ta%ari %aith' the Ra$ta%arireli#io&' a&" Ra$ta%ari -rethre&. The term Ra$ta%aria& i$ +$e" e(!l+$i*el, a$ a&a" e!ti*e i& all other i&$ta&!e$.

. 7ea*er' su!ra &ote 2' at 1; ?e( lai&i that the 7e$ter& reli#io&$ are tho$e o%"o#ma$' theolo#,' ethi!$' a&" a "i$ti&!tio& -et)ee& the $a!re" a&" the ro%a&e a$ e!t$ o%li%e rather tha& a reli#io& o% rit+al o-$er*a&!e that i$ &ot o&l, tie" to the la&"' -+t al$o toe*er,"a, li%eB.10 . 5 9TT9 NO IT 9 ANS ' I NT9RFR9TIN@ TH9 : R99 9 9RCIS9 O: R 9 I@ION T H9 CONSTITUTION AND A M9RICAN F URA ISM 21< 1 ?1 ;B.11 . "om!are 7ar$ol"ier *. 7oo"%or"' 41< :.3" < ' < ? th Cir. 200 B' with Ree"*. :a+l &er'

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200< RA)TAFAR AN FR(( (+(R" )( "LA M) 13; ri$o& a"mi&i$trator$ o%te& !ite the $ame ri$o& !o&!er&$ )ith )hi!h to"e%eat %ree e(er!i$e !laim$. 13 i e Nati*e Ameri!a& i&mate$ )ho ha*e

-ro+#ht %ree e(er!i$e !laim$' Ra$ta%aria& i&mate$ -rii !laim$ m+$t!o&%ro&t ri$o& o%%i!ial$ )ho im leme&t limitatio&$ + o& their reli#io+$

ra!ti!e$.14

I& ma&, rior !a$e$' ri$o& o%%i!ial$ ha*e +tiliEe" the $amei&tere$t$' $ometime$ !o&$i"ere" !om elli' to o*er!ome the $+-$ta&tial -+r"e& im o$e" + o& the ri$o&er $ reli#io+$ e(er!i$e. 1 U&"er$ta&"i)h, i&!o&$i$te&!ie$ er$i$t' $+!h a$ the "e#ree o% !om +l$io& $+rro+&"ithe #o*er&me&tal i&tere$t$' i$ im orta&t to the a"*a&!eme&t o% Ra$ta%aria&i&mate$ reli#io+$ %ree"om.

Thi$ Note )ill -e#i& -, ill+$trati the Ra$ta%ari reli#io& a&" the$tr+##le it ha$ %a!e" i& -e!omi re!o#&iEe" a$ a le#itimate reli#io&. Thi$)ill -e %ollo)e" -, a& e(ami&atio& o% the hi$tori!al -a! #ro+&" a&"!+rre&t $tate o% the la)' i&!l+"i the "e*elo me&t o% the Reli#io+$ a&"U$e a&" I&$tit+tio&aliEe" Fer$o&$ A!t ?R UIFAB' 16 a&" )ill -rie%l, "i$!+$$the Ameri!a& I&"ia& Reli#io+$ :ree"om A!t ?AIR:AB. 1; :o!+$ )ill the&t+r& to a !om ari$o& o% the ro#re$$ o% Nati*e Ameri!a& i&mate !laim$ a&"tho$e o% Ra$ta%aria& i&mate$. Atte&tio& )ill the& -e #i*e& to the %e"eralre#+latio&$ ermitti the e(er!i$e o% reli#io& i& e&al i&$tit+tio&$ a$!o&tra$te" )ith ma&, $tate re#+latio&$ 1< i& a& attem t to re$ol*e )h, the:e"eral 5+rea+ o% Fri$o&$ ?:5OFB ha$ !o&$i"era-l, more li-eral oli!ie$re#ar"i a ri$o&er $ reli#io+$ e(er!i$e )he& !om are" to ma&, $tate

ri$o&$ a&" !orre!tio&al i&$tit+tio&$' ,et ha$ the $ame' i% &ot #reater'"ema&" %or the +&i%orm i&tere$t$ o% $a%et, a&" $e!+rit,. The %i&al $e!tio&)ill $et %orth the a+thor $ re!omme&"atio&$ a&" !o&!l+$io&$ !o&!er&i the$tat+$ o% the Ra$ta%ari %aith a$ a mi&orit, reli#io& )ithi& the !orre!tio&al$,$tem.

13

. )ee in%ra Fart III.D.14 . Dere . @a+-atE' RL, PA at Four: (valuating the )uccess and "onstitutionalityo% RL, PA-s Prisoner Provisions ' 2< H AR . J. . > F U5 . F O = 01' 13 14 ?200 B?e( lai&i that a& i&mate m+$t e(ha+$t all a"mi&i$trati*e reme"ie$ a*aila-le to him -e%ore

-rii a !laimB.1 . )ee in%ra Fart I .16 . Reli#io+$ a&" U$e a&" I&$tit+tio&aliEe" Fer$o&$ A!t' 42 U.S.C. K 2000!! 1?aB?1B ?2B ?2000B ? No #o*er&me&t $hall im o$e a $+-$ta&tial -+r"e& o& the reli#io+$ e(er!i$eo% a er$o& re$i"i i& or !o&%i&e" to a& i&$tit+tio& +&le$$ the #o*er&me&t !a& "emo&$tratethat the -+r"e& %+rther$ a !om elli #o*er&me&tal i&tere$t a&" i$ the lea$t re$tri!ti*emea&$ o% %+rtheri that !om elli #o*er&me&tal i&tere$t. B.1; . Ameri!a& I&"ia& Reli#io+$ :ree"om A!t' 42 U.S.C. K 1 6 ?2000B ? I t $hall -ethe oli!, o% the U&ite" State$ to rote!t a&" re$er*e %or Ameri!a& I&"ia&$ their i&here&tri#ht o% %ree"om to -elie*e' e( re$$' a&" e(er!i$e tra"itio&$ i&!l+"i a!!e$$ to $ite$' +$ea&" o$$e$$io& o% $a!re" o- e!t$' a&" the %ree"om to )or$hi thro+#h !eremo&ial$ a&"tra"itio&al rite$. B.1< . The $tate re#+latio&$ )ill -e ill+$trate" thro+#h !a$e la) rimaril, !o&!er&i

er$o&al #roomi a&" "ietar, re$tri!tio&$.

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13< "R M NAL AN# " V L "'NF N(M(NT ol. 34 3 1II. 7 HO A R9 TH9 R ASTA:ARI L TH9 R ASTA:ARI R 9 I@ION

To ro erl, e(ami&e the %ree e(er!i$e !laim$ -ro+#ht -, Ra$ta%aria&i&mate$' o&e m+$t %ir$t +&"er$ta&" the hi$tor, a&" -elie%$ o% the Ra$ta%aria&reli#io&. The +"i!ial $,$tem i$ %amiliar )ith the more !ommo& tra"itio&$o% Ra$ta%ari $+!h a$ "rea"lo! $ a&" the !eremo&ial +$e o% #a& a' "i$mi$$i$+!h ra!ti!e$ a$ more a Jamai!a& $o!ial a&" oliti!al subculture tha& areli#io&. 1 There are ma&, a$ e!t$ o% the reli#io& that the !o+rt i$+&%amiliar )ith -e!a+$e it i$ &ot re eate"l, reG+ire" to i&ter*e&e. 20 S+!ha$ e!t$ i&!l+"e the -elie% that -la! eo le are ra!iall, $+ erior' the -elie%that 9thio ia i$ hea*e&' a&" the re%+$al to eat %oo" that ha$ -ee& re are"

-, a )oma& "+ri me&$tr+atio&. 21

A. The 5e#i&&i o% the Ra$ta%aria& Mo*eme&t

The Ra$ta%aria& mo*eme&t !a& -e tra!e" to the ro het Mar!+$ @ar*e, 22

a&" the ri$e o% 9m eror Haile Sela$$ie i& 1 30. 23 Mar!+$ @ar*e,' o% Fa&A%ri!a&i$m' %o+&"e" the U&i*er$al Ne#ro Im ro*eme&t A$$o!iatio& i& theU&ite" State$ )here he rea!he" -la! &atio&ali$m 24 a&" re"i!te" the!omi o% a 5la! Me$$iah. 2 @ar*e, -e#a& rea!hi -la! &atio&ali$m

-e!a+$e he "ete$te" $la*er, a&" !olo&iEatio&. 26 I& 1 2;' @ar*e, ret+r&e" toJamai!a a%ter "e ortatio& %rom the U&ite" State$ a&" -e#a& rea!hi thata -la! i $hall -e !ro)&e" a&" that hi$ eo le )o+l" -e ret+r&e" toA%ri!a.2; @ar*e, $ ro he!, )a$ %+l%ille" i& No*em-er 1 30 )he& Fri&!eRa$ Ta%ari )a$ !ro)&e" 9m eror Haile Sela$$ie I o% 9thio ia' !o&$i"ere"the !o&G+eri io& o% the Tri-e o% J+"ah. 2< Altho+#h the !ro)&i o% Ra$Ta%ari %+l%ille" @ar*e, $ $tateme&t' @ar*e, "e&ie" hi$ "i*i&it, a&""i$!re"ite" thi$ -elie% a$ +&$+ orti*e o% the Ra$ta%ari %aith' -+t1 . O 5rie& > Carter' su!ra &ote R 9 N9TT 9:ORD ' I NSTITUT9 O: SOCIA AND 9 CONOMIC R 9S9ARCH ' U NI 9RSIT= CO 9@9 O: TH9 7 9ST I NDI9S ' T H9 R AS TA:ARI MO 9M9NT IN IN@STON ' J AMAICA < ?1 60B ?&oti @ar*e, $ %aile" 5la! Star i&e i&)hi!h he "e$ire" to %o+&" a& A%ri!a& $tate to )hi!h A%ri!a& Ameri!a&$ i& the 7e$ter&Hemi$ here )o+l" -e tra&$ orte" a&" ho) @ar*e, $ $,m-ol o% the 5la! Star i&e )a$

la!e" i& the !e&ter o% the %la# o% @ha&aB.23 . Ta,lor' su!ra &ote 12' at 1606.24 . SMITH 9T A .' su!ra &ote 22' at Carter' su!ra &ote

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200< RA)TAFAR AN FR(( (+(R" )( "LA M) 13&e*erthele$$' he i$ $till !o&$i"ere" the %ather o% the Ra$ta%ari %aith.2

@ar*e, $ "i$tr+$t o% the Chri$tia& !h+r!h a&" it$ role i& the !olo&iEatio&o% A%ri!a le" to +&iG+e i&ter retatio&$ o% 5i-li!al a$$a#e$ -, Ra$ta%arimi$$io&arie$.30 @ar*e, $ o e o% the !h+r!h $ hierar!h, o% !olo+r !a+$i

the )hite mi&orit,31

to $ee their @o" thro+#h )hite $ e!ta!le$' )hi!hhe !o&$i"ere" a "e%e!ti*e !o&!e t o% @o". 32 Th+$' @ar*e, +r#e" the -la! o +latio& to loo thro+#h the $ e!ta!le$ o% 9thio ia to $ee @o"a&" to rei&ter ret the 5i-le %rom a& A%ri!a& er$ e!ti*e $o a$ to li-eratethem$el*e$ %rom the )hite mi&orit,. 33 @ar*e, $ $+ orter$ too hi$)or"$ literall, a&" !laime" that @o" )a$ the 9m eror Haile Sela$$ie I o%9thio ia' that Mar!+$ @ar*e, )a$ hi$ ro het' a&" the, re rea" -oth theOl" a&" Ne) Te$tame&t$ o% the 5i-le' th+$ !reati Ra$ta%ari tra"itio&$. 34

5. Ra$ta%aria& Do!tri&e$' Fra!ti!e$' a&" Rit+al$

Tho+#h the Ra$ta%ari ma, $eem li e a "i$or#a&iEe" #ro+ rather tha& areli#io&'3 Ra$ta%ari hol" $e*eral !ore -elie%$. 36 The %ir$t i$ that 9m eror

Haile Sela$$ie i$ the li*i @o" a&" i$ o&l, re*eale" to tr+e -elie*er$.3;

TheRa$ta%ari -a$e thi$ -elie% o& the 5i-le a$$a#e$ o% Fro*er-$ 22' I$aiah 43'a&" Joh& 16' )hi!h $tate % or I am i& the :ather a&" the :ather i$ i&Me. 3< The, al$o -elie*e that the -la! ma& ha$ -ee& e(ile" to 5a-,lo& 3

-, the )hite ma&' a&" that the )hite ma& i$ i&%erior to the -la! ma&' ,etthe, a!!e t i&"i*i"+al )hite$ )ho are &ot ra!i$t. 40 The, -elie*e 9thio ia i$hea*e& a&" the )orl" o+t$i"e i$ hell -e!a+$e o% $la*er, a&" re re$$io&' a&"

2 . Ta,lor' su!ra &ote 12' at 1606 &.16.30 . O 5rie& > Carter' su!ra &ote Carter' su!ra &ote

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200< RA)TAFAR AN FR(( (+(R" )( "LA M) 141The o! $me& -elie*e the, are the +re$t Ra$ta%ari -e!a+$e their

o$itio& i$ !lo$e$t to the 5i-le a&" Ra$ta%aria& tra"itio&. 4 The tra"itio& o%laiti the lo hair o% me& -e#a& )ith the 9thio ia& 7arrior$ )ho

$tarte" to a ear i& i$to& aro+&" 1 4;. 6 The o! $me& !laim the

tra"itio& o% "rea"lo! $;

-e#a& )he&T he or" $ o e +&to Mo$e$' $a,i S ea +&to the !hil"re& o%

I$rael a&" $a, +&to them' ) he& either ma& or )oma& $hall $e aratethemselves to *o) the *o) o% a NaEarite' to $e arate themselves +&tothe or" . . . all the "a,$ i% the *o) o% the $e aratio& there $hall &o raEor!ome + o& hi$ hea" +&til the "a,$ he %+l%ille" i& the )hi!h he$e arate himsel% +&to the or"' he $hall -e hol, and $hall let the lo! $o% the hair o% hi$ hea" #ro).