Sierra Club Stands with Ramapough: Mahwah is Wrong

Mahwah Township is suing the Ramapough Lenape Nation in State Court over the Nation’s public prayer camp They use the camp to educate people on environmental issues, including the Pilgrim Pipeline. There are teepee’s and temporary structures on the land that the township wants removed, despite the land being owned by the Ramapough. Public comment on the matter will be heard at the Mahwah Council meeting, tonight, Thursday May 18, 2017 at 7:30PM at the Richard J. Martel Municipal Building, 475 Corporate Dr​, Mahwah, NJ 07430.

“What the township is doing is wrong and unconscionable. There’s no reason why they can’t let the Ramapough continue to have their prayer camp there. It’s not a nuisance nor is it bothering anyone. The people are executing their constitutional rights to peacefully assembly and worship. The town’s actions may violate the Religious Freedom Act. The teepees are not permanent structures; it is no different from someone putting a tent, birdbath, or volleyball net in their backyard. Teepees have no foundation, no piling and no infrastructure connected to water, sewer, or electricity. These structures do not violate any ordinances for height or setback. There is no legal reason for the Township to force them to remove these temporary structures. They have the right to express themselves and stand up for what they believe in,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “There are more important things that Mahwah should be working on, such as stopping the Pilgrim Pipeline.”