Texas judge rules against teen Darryl George who claimed suspension over his dreadlocks was a violation of his rights

A judge in Texas has ruled against a teen who claimed that suspension over his dreadlocks was a violation of his rights. 

Darryl George, 18, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu has been suspended twice after the the school district declared that his hairstyle violated its length policy. 

The Barbers Hill Independent School District then filed a lawsuit and argued that George´s long hair, which he wears in tied and twisted locks on top of his head, would fall below his shirt collar, eyebrows or earlobes when let down.

District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in the school district's favor of Thursday and claimed that the ongoing discipline that George has faced is legal under the CROWN act. 

The act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair is a law which prohibits race-based hair discrimination against 'protective hairstyles' like braids and locks. 

George said that his hair is 'how I feel closer to my people. It's how I feel closer to my ancestors. It's just. It's who I am.' 

The Barbers Hill Independent School District filed a lawsuit against Darryl George , 18, a junior at Barbers Hill High School and argued that his dreadlocks went against the school's hair length policy

George is seen speaking at a press conference before the court hearing that took place on Thursday. District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in the school district's favor and said the discipline against the student was legal 

George was suspended twice for his hairstyle- first in September at an off-campus disciplinary program for 30 days and again after he returned for an additional 13 days to an in-school suspension 

Dozens of supporters turned out for the trial in Anahuac, outside Houston, joining George and his mother, Darresha. 

George said 'it was just sad' that the school district was punishing him over his hairstyle.

The CROWN Act came into effect in September, the same month George was first reprimanded for his dreadlocks and sent to an off-campus disciplinary program for 30 days. 

Once he returned to class, the school then displaced him again on the same grounds and referred him to an in-school suspension for 13 days.  

The act also prohibits employers and school from penalizing people because of hair texture and further hairstyles like Afros, twists and Bantu knots. 

Allie Booker, George´s attorney, presented two witnesses at the hearing- the teen's mother and Democratic state Rep. Ron Reynolds, who is one of the co-authors of the CROWN Act.

Reynolds testified that hair length was not specifically discussed when the CROWN Act was proposed but that it 'was inferred with the very nature of the style.' 

'Anyone familiar with braids, locs, twists knows it requires a certain amount of length,' Reynolds said. 

The school district maintained in court documents that its policy does not violate the CROWN Act because the law does not mention or cover hair length.

Sara Leon, an attorney for the school district said: 'We appreciate the court giving clarity to the meaning of the CROWN Act.' 

The district did not offer any witnesses to testify but did submit evidence that included an affidavit from the district´s superintendent defending the dress code policy. 

The school code states that a male student's hair cannot be worn in a style 'that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down'

His mother, Darresha George, has insisted that her son's hairstyle abides by the school's policy because he wears it tied up and that the school is being discriminatory

A group of protestors were seen holding up posters with the teen's face on it outside of Poole's home on Wednesday in support for George

His mother has insisted that her son's hairstyle abides by the school's policy because he wears it tied up and that the school is being discriminatory. 

'This has everything to do with the administration being prejudiced toward Black hairstyles, toward Black culture,' she said.

'My son is well-groomed, and his hair is not distracting from anyone's education.

'I am trying to figure out how he is in violation when he has never let his hair down. How do you know his hair is below his eyebrows?

'He is not getting a proper education. He is not getting proper instruction.' 

A copy of the school's notice, as obtained by CNN reads: 'Darryl's hair is out of compliance with the BH dress code when let down. If Darryl corrects his dress code violation he will be allowed to return to his regular classes.' 

The school district says its dress code is meant to 'teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards and teach respect for authority'. 

'When you are asked to conform and give up something for the betterment of the whole, there is a psychological benefit,' said district superintendent Greg Poole.

'We need more teaching (of) sacrifice.'

In a paid ad that ran in January in the Houston Chronicle, Poole wrote that districts with a traditional dress code are safer and have higher academic performance because 'being an American requires conformity.'

A group of protestors were seen holding up posters with the teen's face on it outside of Poole's home on Wednesday. 

Their posters said: 'End discriminatory policies and practices that contribute to over policing and push out of black students,' along with the hashtag #MyHairIsNotAThreat. 

 Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole denied the policy is racist

George wears his hair up while in school. His family has insisted that his hair style complies with the school code

In 2020, another student from the same school, DeAndre Arnold, 18, received in-school suspension and was told he could no longer walk in his graduation because of his dreadlocks

George said he feels like is being singled out because there are other boys in the school with longer hairstyles. 

'It's frustrating because I'm getting punished for something everyone else is doing, growing hair, having hair,' he said.

David Bloom, a Barbers Hill Independent School District spokesperson, told CNN that George's graduation date will not be impacted despite him missing out on most of his junior year classes. 

'As far as graduation impact, there is none. A program is in place for him to complete his courses in dress-code ISS if he chooses not to trim his hair,' Bloom said, adding that a teacher is assigned to each ISS classroom to help students complete regular coursework.

In 2020, another student from the same school, DeAndre Arnold, 18, received in-school suspension and was told he could no longer walk in his graduation because of his dreadlocks. 

Activists from Black Lives Matter Houston and the United Urban Alumni Association flooded to the Barbers Hill High School's board meeting on Monday night, Martin Luther King Jr Day, to protest against what they claim is a discriminatory policy.

Groups turned their back on speakers defending the school's policy. 

Arnold began growing his dreadlocks in the seventh grade but the length of his hair never became an issue for the school until he returned after the holiday break this year to be told the policy had changed.  

The teen stated that his hair is a celebration of his Trinidadian roots and that he always wears it up while in school. He has attended schools in Barbers Hill independent school district for ten years. 

'They say that even (when) my hair is up, if it were to be down it would be not in compliance with the dress code. However, I don't take it down in the school,' Arnold argued. 

'We're here for Deandre, but it's about more than that,' his mother Sandy Arnold told CBS News.

'This is about all the other Deandres that could come through Barbers Hill.'