THE NEW MEXICO CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS BEING SUED BY FOUR NATIVE AMERICAN INMATES AT THE STATE PEN IN SANTA FE. LORENZO MARTINEZ, JOHNNY SALAZAR, MARTY BEGAY AND RYAN BEGAY ARE SUING THE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT ALLOWING THEM THE MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES, LIKE RATTLES, DRUMS, TOBACCO, PRAYER TIES AND A LIGHTER.
THE LAWSUIT SHOWS MATERIALS LIKE THESE HAVE BEEN DENIED DATING BACK TO 2014. MARTY BEGAY … INCARCERATED FOR KILLING AN ALLSUP’S GAS STATION CLERK DURING A ROBBERY IN 1998 … FILED THE LAWSUIT LAST DECEMBER. PETER SIMONSON WITH THE ACLU NEW MEXICO TELLS KOB TV THIS IS NOT A FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINT.
