Latest news with #CROWNAct
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
In-N-Out former employee files $3-million lawsuit, saying he was fired over his hairstyle
In-N-Out Burger is being sued for at least $3 million by a former employee for alleged racial discrimination involving the employee's hairstyle, according to a Los Angeles County Superior Court filing. According to the suit, 21-year-old Elijah Obeng, who is Black, said he experienced severe emotional distress after he was unfairly targeted by the burger chain's dress code. The dress code requires its employees to wear company-issued hats with their hair tucked in, and male employees must be clean-shaven, the lawsuit says. An In-N-Out corporate representative could not immediately be reached for comment on the lawsuit. Obeng worked at the Compton In-N-Out location for a little less than four years. As his hair grew, he began receiving orders to change his hairstyle so it could remain contained in the company-issued hat. He began wearing braids to comply, but management still took issue with Obeng's sideburns, which he considered important to his cultural identity, according to the lawsuit. Obeng began to be treated differently at work after resisting the orders to shave, the lawsuit said. Management criticized his work more frequently than his fellow employees, and he was denied opportunities for promotions, according to the suit. In May 2024, Obeng's supervisor sent him home to shave his sideburns and then return, according to the filing. This was done in front of his co-workers, and he felt 'publicly humiliated,' the suit said. Obeng did not follow these orders and instead texted his supervisor that he would return for his next shift. A couple days later, he was fired, the lawsuit said. In-N-Out said the termination was due to prior write-ups, but Obeng believed it to be a discriminatory action in retaliation to his resistance against the dress code policies, the filing said. The suit said that In-N-Out has allegedly violated the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair. This California law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee's hairstyle or hair texture. 'This policy disproportionately burdened Black employees whose natural hair may not conform to such grooming standards,' the lawsuit said. In-N-Out's alleged discrimination has caused Obeng 'anxiety, humiliation, and loss of dignity,' the suit said.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania's CROWN Act legislation advances
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania is one step closer to making it illegal to discriminate against a person based on their hair. House Bill 439, also known as the CROWN Act, is now headed to the Senate State Government Committee for a vote after passing the state House Monday, according to State Rep. La'Tasha Mayes (D-Allegheny). 'Today we take another significant step towards ending race-based discrimination in our commonwealth and creating a respectful and open world for natural hair,' Mayes said. 'It is shameful that such a basic protection has still not been codified into our state law after years of legislative action. No one should face discrimination for wearing their hair as it naturally grows from their head or in protective styles such as locs, braids or cornrows. The CROWN Act deserves an immediate vote from the state Senate to protect our workers, students, and other members of the public from this insidious type of discrimination.' The bill passed the state House with a vote of 194-8. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now H.B. 439 would 'amend the PA Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair type, hair texture or hairstyle, including for Pennsylvania employers. During the previous legislation, the CROWN Act did pass the state house with a vote of 182-21 but it was never brought before the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Amid ‘chaos' of Trump administration, R.I. legislators of color urge people to act locally
'Our state motto is hope, and we must always be ready to put that hope into action with all of the chaos that's going down in D.C.,' said Senator Tiara T. Mack, a Providence Democrat who co-chairs the caucus. 'We know that the state level is now the new defender of our democracy and of our rights.' The caucus held a news conference at the State House on Tuesday to announce its 2025 legislative policy agenda, which includes proposals to tax the richest Rhode Islanders, increase the minimum wage, and provide eviction protections for tenants. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'We have 15 bills that are people centered and dedicated to fighting back against the Trump administration, but also focused on building a Rhode Island that works for everyone,' Mack said. 'There are local leaders who are saying that even in the face of all that chaos, we're providing Rhode Islanders with the tools in order to protect us from the worst effects of this administration.' Advertisement She noted there have been a series of recent demonstrations against Trump administration policies at the State House. 'Now I want those same people to come inside of the State House,' Mack said. 'Testify on bills. Reach out for a coffee chat with your legislator.' As the Trump administration attempts to 'Locally, there are leaders that are here and prepared to fight for you,' Morales. 'But even beyond just legislative leaders and elected officials, we have community (members) that have compassion and care for one another.' Morales said the caucus is getting behind legislation that would apply an additional tax of 3 percent on the top 1 percent of Rhode Island tax filers with personal income of more than $625,000. Advertisement 'We're most excited about establishing a fair tax system, where the wealthiest pay their fair share,' he said, 'because that allows for us to have the revenue needed in order to fund programs that are most important to our communities, from public education to transportation.' Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, has made clear he opposes raising the income tax rate for the richest Rhode Islanders, saying he But Mack called that argument 'a myth,' and noted that Massachusetts enacted a millionaire's tax that Morales said the caucus will push to raise the minimum wage, which now stands at $15 an hour, so that it reaches $20 per hour by 2030. He said more than 70,000 Rhode Islanders earn the minimum wage, 'and more often than not, it is a person of color working a low wage job.' Mack said the caucus also will back the CROWN Act, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include 'hair texture and protective hairstyles.' She said, 'All of the research has shown that Black and brown women oftentimes face hair-type and texture discrimination in their workplace.' The caucus includes 21 of the General Assembly's 113 members — the same number as last year. In Advertisement Mack said the caucus is beginning to have an impact on the laws passed on Smith Hill. 'I think the more that we continue to flex our muscles as a group of Black and brown and traditionally marginalized voices in the State House, the more power we have in advancing conversations around important policies,' she said. To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast , , and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above. Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats reintroduce CROWN Act to ban hair discrimination
Democrats have reintroduced federal legislation to ban hair discrimination. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) reintroduced the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN Act, on Tuesday. The legislation institutes federal protections against discrimination of natural hairstyles, such as curly and kinky hair, as well as protective styles like Bantu knots, locs and twists. 'There are women, there are girls, there are boys and there are men who have been treated negatively, either in job situations or school situations or even beyond, simply because of the way they wear their hair,' Watson Coleman told The Hill. She continued, 'People assume that they're less than, that they're unprofessional, that they're not, not clean and tidy and things of that nature, and they use the texture of the hair or the style of the hair to make impressions and decisions as to whether or not to entertain an interview with them, whether or not they could stay in school that day, whether or not they can receive a promotion, or whether or not they can even represent their companies, simply because the way they wear their hair.' Concerns around hair discrimination have increased in the last several years, particularly as high-profile cases have made headlines. One of the most recent incidents in Texas involved an 18-year-old student who served several months of in-school suspension for his locs, a type of protective hairstyle. That student, Darryl George, won the support of advocates around the nation, and the Congressional Black Caucus invited him to former President Biden's State of the Union in 2024. A similar incident occurred in 2020, when two Texas students of Black and Trinidadian descent were assigned to in-school suspension and excluded from extracurricular activities and graduation for refusing to cut their locs, which they had been growing for years in homage to their heritage. But disciplining students or employees over their hair 'just doesn't make any sense,' said Watson Coleman. 'It is not connected to whether or not you have the ability to do the job or to get the education or to do whatever it is that you're being asked to do,' she said. 'So it's an affront to everyone. It's an extension of what we saw in the Civil Rights Movement that dealt with the color of your skin. It's just an extension of that, and it's 2025. … We need to have a national standard, because people are treated differentially depending upon where they are.' Though multiple states have a CROWN Act, the federal legislation has failed to pass. The House passed the CROWN Act in 2022, but it stalled in the Senate. This time, Watson Coleman has the support of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), and she hopes that can push the legislation forward in the upper chamber. 'This is not controversial legislation. This is very simplistic,' Watson Coleman said. 'Wearing Bantu knots and curly cues and other kinds of hairstyles that are typically found associated with Africans and African Americans, that's nothing other than an expression of how you see yourself. There's no disrespect intended.' But Watson Coleman admits she's unsure if the House will pass the act this time around, as Republicans have set their sights on ending any legislation and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. 'I am worried about Republicans on every level. I have seen Republicans remove some of the most brilliant people who happen to be women, who happen to be minorities, and replace them with the most mediocre people,' Watson Coleman said. 'This House right now is very dysfunctional, evil and crazy,' she said. 'So I don't know what to expect from them, but if they had any sense, they'd let some of the easier things go through so they don't look like they're against everything.' Watson Coleman added that if exceptions are made for individuals to change the color of their hair and continue to be allowed in class or at work, then that same acceptance should be shown for the texture of an individual's hair. 'I know that this is a very difficult time, because I know that white supremacy has really reared its ugly head in a way that is hard for people to embrace and to respond to,' she said. 'But at the end of the day, this is the government of, by and for the people, and collectively, we are more powerful than those who choose to be racist and misogynistic and Islamophobic.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democrats reintroduce CROWN Act to ban hair discrimination
Democrats have reintroduced federal legislation to ban hair discrimination. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) reintroduced the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN Act, on Tuesday. The legislation institutes federal protections against discrimination toward natural hairstyles, such as curly and kinky hair, as well as protective styles like Bantu knots, locs and twists. 'There are women, there are girls, there are boys and there are men who have been treated negatively, either in job situations or school situations or even beyond, simply because of the way they wear their hair,' Watson Coleman told The Hill. She continued, 'People assume that they're less than, that they're unprofessional, that they're not, not clean and tidy and things of that nature, and they use the texture of the hair or the style of the hair to make impressions and decisions as to whether or not to entertain an interview with them, whether or not they could stay in school that day, whether or not they can receive a promotion, or whether or not they can even represent their companies, simply because the way they wear their hair.' Concerns around hair discrimination have increased in the last several years, particularly as high-profile cases have made headlines. One of the most recent incidents in Texas involved an 18-year-old student who served several months of in-school suspension for his locs, a type of protective hairstyle. That student, Darryl George, won the support of advocates around the nation, and the Congressional Black Caucus invited him to former President Biden's State of the Union in 2024. A similar incident occurred in 2020, when two Texas students of Black and Trinidadian descent were assigned to in-school suspension and excluded from extracurricular activities and graduation for refusing to cut their locs, which they had been growing for years in homage to their heritage. But disciplining students or employees over their hair 'just doesn't make any sense,' said Watson Coleman. 'It is not connected to whether or not you have the ability to do the job or to get the education or to do whatever it is that you're being asked to do,' she said. 'So it's an affront to everyone. It's an extension of what we saw in the civil rights movement that dealt with the color of your skin. It's just an extension of that, and it's 2025 … we need to have a national standard, because people are treated differentially depending upon where they are.' Though multiple states have a CROWN Act, the federal legislation has failed to pass. The House passed the CROWN Act in 2022, but it stalled in the Senate. This time, Watson Coleman has the support of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and she hopes that can push the legislation forward in the upper chamber. 'This is not controversial legislation. This is very simplistic,' Watson Coleman said. 'Wearing bantu knots and curly cues and other kinds of hairstyles that are typically found associated with Africans and African Americans, that's nothing other than an expression of how you see yourself. There's no disrespect intended.' But Watson Coleman admits she's unsure if the House will pass the Act this time around, as Republicans have set their sights on ending any legislation and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. 'I am worried about Republicans on every level. I have seen Republicans remove some of the most brilliant people who happen to be women, who happen to be minorities, and replace them with the most mediocre people,' Watson Coleman said. 'This house right now is very dysfunctional, evil and crazy,' she said. 'So I don't know what to expect from them, but if they had any sense, they'd let some of the easier things go through so they don't look like they're against everything.' Watson Coleman added that if exceptions are made for individuals to change the color of their hair and continue to be allowed in class or at work, then that same acceptance should be allowed for the texture of an individual's hair. 'I know that this is a very difficult time, because I know that white supremacy has really reared its ugly head in a way that is hard for people to embrace and to respond to,' she said. 'But at the end of the day, this is the government of, by and for the people, and collectively, we are more powerful than those who choose to be racist and misogynistic and Islamophobic.'
