Rights upheld, lawsuit revived against teacher accused of cutting Native American student's hair

Source: Associated Press

Rights upheld, lawsuit revived against teacher accused of cutting Native American student’s hair

By MORGAN LEE
June 2, 2023

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An appeals court ruling has revived an anti-discrimination lawsuit accusing an Albuquerque teacher of cutting off one Native American girl’s hair and asking another if she was dressed as a “bloody Indian” during class on Halloween.

Outrage over the girls’ treatment propelled legislation in New Mexico and beyond that prohibits discrimination based upon hairstyle and religious head garments.

The American Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit accused Albuquerque Public Schools and a teacher of discrimination and fostering a hostile learning environment. ACLU of New Mexico Deputy Director Leon Howard said the ruling affirms that public schools are subject to antidiscrimination protections in the New Mexico Human Rights Act.

The appellate ruling validates that all “students must feel safe at school and confident that their culture, history, and personal dignity are valued and respected by the public schools they attend,” Howard said in a statement.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/new-mexico-native-american-hair-0b19c9ba22e529ab74ff7fef62e0051b