Darryl George: "Sue the city": Texas student Darryl George referred to an alternate school over his hairstyle

"Sue the city": Texas student Darryl George referred to an alternate school over his hairstyle

Modified Oct 13, 2023 19:37 GMT

Texas student Darryl George was removed from his high school and transferred to another program for his hairstyle. (Image via Facebook/Penny Sisto, Darresha George)

Darryl George, an 18-year-old Black student from Texas was removed from Mont Belvieu’s Barbers Hill High School on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, for his hairstyle. He was referred to a disciplinary alternative school program for the same. The student, who turned 18 only last week, wears his natural black hair in locs, which he said are an emblem of his cultural pride.

Barbers Hill High School referred Darryl to EPIC, an alternative educational program that the student has to attend from October 12 to November 29. The high school principal Lance Murphy wrote a letter to Darryl's mother, Darresha George. In the letter, Murphy cited violations of several campus and classroom regulations as the reason behind the removal.

“As the School Principal, I have determined that your child has engaged in chronic or repeated disciplinary infractions that violate the Distrcti’s previously communicated standards of student conduct,” the principal wrote in the letter.

Darryl was sent to an alternative school program for his hair. (Image via X/@Phil_Lewis_)

Since August 31, the 18-year-old was already serving an in-school suspension because of his locs. According to the high school, Darryl George failed to comply with the administration’s directives and violated the institution’s dress and grooming policy.

Netizens were furious at the school and the school district for initially suspending the student and then removing him because of how he wears his hair. One X user commented on Philip Lewis's post on the same and called for a lawsuit against the city.

Barbers Hill High School garners immense backlash after removing Darryl George for his hairstyle. (Image via X/@Phil_Lewis_)

Netizens outraged as Darryl George is transferred to an alternative school program

When they found out about the school's decision, netizens called the actions unreasonable and ridiculous. Some even accused the school authorities of racially discriminating against Darryl.

Several netizens said that the school should be shut down or the person who took the decision to suspend and transfer Darryl George to another program, should be removed from their position.

Barbers Hill High School garners immense backlash after removing Darryl for his hairstyle. (Image via X/@Phil_Lewis_)

Darryl George has no plans of cutting his hair

Civil rights activist Candice Matthews, the spokeswoman for Darryl’s family said that he felt scared as he stood before the building of the alternative school. Candice added that Darryl does not plan on cutting his hair.

Darryl George's previous suspension led to his family suing school officials, Texas’s attorney general, and Governor Greg Abbott. The family sued them for purportedly failing to enforce the Texas CROWN Act, a law that prohibits racial discrimination based on hairstyles. Allie Booker, the George family’s attorney said that Darryl’s recent removal might be a retaliation from the school district.

Edited by Madhur Dave