On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee met for what appears to be the last time this session. Despite strong passage in the Senate, the Crown Act (SB 850) had not been placed on the agenda, which would have seemingly killed the bill. Delegate Fluharty then made a motion to suspend the rules and have the committee hear the bill. That motion required 2/3 of the committee to approve it. It failed by one vote.
Today, a motion on the floor of the House to discharge the Crown Act from committee so that the full House could consider it was tabled. This likely was the last hope for the Crown Act this session.
We want to thank Delegates Walker and Fluharty and Senator Trump for their leadership on this issue.
The Crown Act is simple. It adds traits commonly associated with race like hair texture and protective styles like braids and twists to the West Virginia Human Rights Act. Hair discrimination is a reality for Black people, particularly women who find their hair policed in the workplace, in sports, and in school.
We will continue to advocate for the Crown Act. This type of discrimination should have no place in West Virginia.