- Target:
- The Supreme Court
- Region:
- Jamaica
Jamaica's Supreme Court ruled Friday, that a school (Kensington Primary) was 'within its rights' to demand that a girl cut her dreadlocks in order for her to attend classes. This is not just a breach of her constitutional rights to freely express herself and receive a formal education, but this is also a direct insult to Rastafarians living in Jamaica, in our diaspora and around the world.
The victim of this blatant disrespect and injustice was told she must cut her dreadlocks for "hygiene" reasons to study at Kensington-- is this implying that locs are unhygienic?
Rastafarianism is apart of Jamaican culture, and dreadlocks are apart of their religion. They should not be denied the right of expression due to our country's disappointing display of ethnic discrimination and bias.
Jamaica celebrates its Emancipation on August 1, but are we really emancipated if our minds are still corrupted by mental slavery? I don't think so.
Let us band together and stop this injustice!
This has to stop!
We, the undersigned, call on the Jamaican Society to assist us in stopping this blatant injustice.
Reverse the High Court's ruling that gives schools permission to deny Rastafarian students' entry to classes!
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Supreme Court: STOP this discourtesy! petition to The Supreme Court was written by Ojea Sheckleford and is in the category Civil Rights at GoPetition.