Jackson Lee jumps into Barbers Hill case
Texas lawmakers gathered at the Mickey Leland Federal Building on Friday to express continued support and concern for Barbers Hill Independent School District student Darryl George.
At the news conference, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee expanded her call for federal involvement regarding his case against the district to include not only a Title VI investigation from the U.S. Education Department but also a Department of Justice investigation.
“I am stunned, literally stunned, of a fight that I have to make for young Mr. George to be treated like a decent human being and be able to receive the education that the tax dollars of his parents and his family pay for every single day,” Jackson Lee said.
Her actions come on the heels of a Texas judge ruling that Barbers Hill ISD did not violate the
state’s recently implemented CROWN Act by suspending 18year-old Darryl George for the length of his hair. As a result, George will return to an alternative school where he’ll likely finish out the remainder of his junior year rather than in the classroom among his peers at Barbers Hill High School.
In a written statement, Superintendent Greg Poole said the “Texas legal system validated” the district’s position, adding, “The CROWN Act does not give students unlimited self-expression.”
“High expectations have helped make Barbers Hill ISD a state leader in all things and high school standards benefit all ethnicities,” Poole said. “Falsely claiming racism is worse than racism and undermines efforts to address actions that violate constitutionally protected rights.”
On the other hand, Jackson Lee counters that the court’s decision overlooks both the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The congresswoman said she plans to reintroduce the CROWN Act to fellow members of Congress but did not say when.
“And I will tell you that I have been received warmly at the Department of Justice regarding this case,” Jackson Lee said, adding that she believes there’s potential for a class-action lawsuit.
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, who chairs the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, state Rep. Jolanda Jones, as well as Candice Matthews with the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats joined Jackson Lee at the news conference. Reynolds and Jones both co-authored Texas’ CROWN Act Law, which Reynolds said came to be after Deandre Arnold’s suspension at Barbers Hill. Reynolds said the school district received notification the law existed.
“And what did they do, congresswoman?” Reynolds said. “They discriminated against a student again. This time they said, ‘Well you know what, the CROWN Act, you guys passed it, but it didn’t cover length.’ This was a damn shame.”
Jackson Lee, who’s in a close reelection battle with Houston native and former City Council Member Amanda Edwards, wants the federal agencies to determine what rights George has been denied as a result of ongoing suspensions. Edwards said those seeking education should be able to do so without discrimination and that they need to be protected.
Jackson Lee said policies surrounding dress codes and those that prohibit natural hairstyles are being used to target the marginalized.
“This is a criminalization of Black identity and Black culture,” she said.