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CROWN Act passes Michigan Senate

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Steven Depolo

Michigan’s ban against racial discrimination would extend to “traits historically associated with race” under a bill that passed the Michigan Senate today.

The bill—known as the “CROWN Act—specifies those traits would include natural hair texture and related styles like braids, locs, and twists.

Democratic Senator Sarah Anthony sponsored the legislation. She calls stories of hair-based discrimination she’s heard “heartbreaking.”

“A young girl in Mt. Pleasant whose hair was cut by school personnel, a young woman in Jackson, a child, elementary school who was told she could not take her school pictures because of her braids, a man in mid-Michigan who was denied health care coverage.”

Opponents to the bill say they’re concerned the language is too broad.

It now heads to the House after passing the Senate 33-to-5.

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