THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021 Page 5 Sen. DiDomenico hosts anti-hair discrimination legislative briefi ng S tate Senator Sal DiDomenico recently joined the national CROWN Coalition in hosting a legislative briefi ng on hair discrimination and the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act. The Crown Coalition is an alliance of organizations dedicated to advocating for new state laws – known as the CROWN Act – that provide protection from racebased hair discrimination. In the Massachusetts Senate, DiDomenico is the lead sponsor of S.994, An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural hairstyles, which would prohibit race-based hair discrimination, including the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair textures or protective hairstyles. DiDomenico hosted this anti-hair discrimination briefi ng alongside his State House partners, Senator Adam Gómez and Representatives Chynah Tyler and Steven Ultrino. Together, these legislators are sponsoring and advocating for the CROWN Act to be passed here in Massachusetts. Currently in Massachusetts and 36 states across the country, it is legal to discriminate moderated by the National Lead Strategist for the CROWN Coalition, Adjoa B. Asamoah. Other speakers at the event included Boston City Councillor Lydia Edwards; Mya and Deanna Cook of Malden, who fought back against hair discrimination at their school in 2017; Janicka Ellis, the owner of Castle Hair Studio in Roxbury; and Bitiah Carter, the President/CEO of New England Blacks in Philanthropy. During the event, DiDomeniSal DiDomenico State Senator against a person in the workplace or schools because of natural or protective hairstyles. Hair discrimination remains a source of racial injustice with economic consequences for Black people. According to a 2019 study, Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair. The CROWN Act corrects these racial injustices by making hair discrimination illegal. The legislative briefi ng included a multitude of speakers detailing their own personal experiences and involvement in the fi ght against race-based hair discrimination. The briefi ng was co emphasized that the existing anti-discrimination laws in Massachusetts fail to protect employees and students who wear their hair in natural or protective hairstyles from discrimination. For this reason, he stressed that it is crucial for the CROWN Act and any supporting bills to become law. “We need to play our part in ensuring that adults and children throughout the Commonwealth, like Mya and Deanna, are protected from hair discrimination that targets hairstyles associated with race,” he said. “While this bill would fi nally help provide protection from race-based hair discrimination, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done. However, I am hopeful that we can continue working together to make these changes a reality in the near future.” According to the The CROWN Act website, the Act was fi rst created in 2019 in California “to ensure protection against discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutoDIDOMENICO | SEE PAGE 21 ry protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools …. The CROWN Act has galvaWe’re CRAZY for Our Community! To Celebrate our 80th Anniversary, We’re Giving Away 8 MONTHLY $88 CASH PRIZES PLUS ONE $888 CASH GRAND PRIZE To Enter To Win, Scan the Code or visit memberspluscu.org/celebrating memberspluscu.org 781-905-1500 *Entry restrictions apply. MEDFORD NORWOOD DORCHESTER EVERETT PLYMOUTH AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) AC SPECIAL Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2012 HONDA PILOT EXL 2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE Loaded, One Owner, Sunroof, Back-up Camera, Warranty, Only 101K Miles! TRADES WELCOME! $15,900 Financing Available! Premium Package, Loaded, Warranty, Looks, 170K Highway Miles, Runs & Drives Great! TRADES WELCOME! $13,900 (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 Easy 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com Vehicle! We Pay Cash For Your
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