Milton Myrie wore Rastafari locs for 20 years. However when his superior, a deputy police chief, instructed him that he must lower them to stay employed as an officer in 2021, Myrie was compelled into “probably the most traumatizing experiences” of his life.
That’s what his lawsuit contends, filed Dec. 3 in opposition to South Fulton, Georgia, and one which seeks a multimillion-dollar award in damages. The accusation relies on the suburban Atlanta metropolis’s CROWN Act of 2020, from an acronym that stands for Create a Respectful Open World for Pure Hair. Town additionally faces a cost of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in Myrie’s case.
The locs had been greater than a trend assertion for Myrie, 36, a religious Rastafarian who had simply moved his household from New York to Atlanta solely months earlier than particularly for the job.
“Myrie’s religion and hair locs had been a supply of consolation and stability in his life,” the lawsuit alleges. “He had a deep and private non secular connection to his hair locs and wouldn’t have lower them if he knew he may have stored them in accordance with federal regulation and town’s CROWN Act.”
Black hair discrimination within the office is frequent however is way extra usually directed at Black ladies. A latest examine revealed that 20 % of Black ladies surveyed between the ages of 25 and 34 reported being despatched dwelling from work as a consequence of their hair.
Whereas South Fulton and 20 states have a CROWN Act prohibiting discrimination primarily based on hair texture and protecting types (similar to braids, twists, and locs), efforts to get the same federal regulation handed the U.S. Home of Representatives in March 2022 however failed within the Senate.
Myrie claims that his superiors failed to inform him that he may apply to maintain his locs on non secular grounds, based on South Fulton’s model of the regulation. Actually, Myrie’s go well with states that they instructed him simply the other — that town had no such provision. By the point he discovered the reality from town’s human sources workers, Myrie had repeatedly lower his hair and developed a pores and skin situation that stops the locs from rising again now.
He additionally claims that being compelled to chop his hair brought on him anxiousness and melancholy. He accused South Fulton of making use of a double normal as a result of it permits feminine officers to maintain their locs, whereas male officers had been additionally pressured to chop theirs — actually, even Connie Rogers, the deputy chief who instructed him to chop his locs, wore her hair in locs.
“Myrie was horrified at Rogers’ assertion and felt that he was being requested to desert his religion with a purpose to settle for a job alternative that he labored arduous to safe,” the lawsuit states.
Rogers has since develop into the primary Black feminine police chief of neighboring Faculty Park. She declined remark, although she shouldn’t be named as a defendant within the go well with.
“At the moment, we’re unable to offer feedback on pending litigation,” South Fulton’s assertion reads. “Please be assured that we take all allegations significantly and are dedicated to making sure a good and simply office for all staff. It’s important to notice that our metropolis is devoted to upholding the rules outlined within the CROWN Act, and we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive and non-discriminatory atmosphere for all staff. We respect your understanding of our place throughout this time and can present updates as applicable.”
South Fulton has 30 days to reply to the lawsuit. In the meantime, Myrie has moved on to a job as an officer in one other unidentified Georgia metropolis and has referred all feedback to his legal professional, Arnold J. Lizana, who mentioned Myrie ought to get “a multimillion-dollar verdict” as compensation for misplaced dignity and non secular well-being.
