NJ Hair Discrimination Bill Blocked By House Republicans

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — House Republicans on Monday prevented the passage of the CROWN Act, which looks to prohibit discrimination against people because of their hair texture or style.

The bill was authored by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, NJ-12 Mercer County.

Vote on the bill was set under a fast-track process used for noncontroversial bills that require a two-thirds supermajority for passage. The final vote was 235-188, with only 15 Republicans supporting it.

New Jersey Republicans, Jeff Van Drew, NJ-2, and Chris Smith, NJ-4 voted against the bill. Meanwhile, all 10 state Democrats voted yes.

In a statement released following the vote, Watson Coleman said the Republicans were succumbing to the climate of “division and obstruction.”

“Even though the exact same bill passed on a voice vote without objection in 2020, House Republicans have chosen to give into the climate of division and obstruction, and block the CROWN Act, a bill meant to end race-based hair discrimination, on the final day of Black History Month,” Watson Coleman said in a statement.

“Despite this temporary setback — and while I regret that Republicans chose to miss an opportunity to show unity against race-based discrimination — we will bring the CROWN Act back and pass it with a simple majority. We won’t allow Republican antics to stand in the way of Black people having the right to live as their authentic selves.”

On the floor, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, argued that the bill was seeking to ban something that was already unlawful.

“Democrats are prioritizing this legislation, a bill to prohibit conduct already unlawful under law, for political messaging reasons,” Jordan said.

“This bill does not address any of the problems our country currently faces.”

Watson Coleman meanwhile argued that Black people, mainly women and girls, are discriminated against because their hair does not “conform to White beauty standards.” She also pointed out that in schools “Black students are disproportionately suspended for unapproved hairstyles.”

New Jersey passed a similar bill back in 2019, after a high school student wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit the match. Andrew Johnson of Buena Regional High School was given an ultimatum to cut his hair or forfeit his match against Oakcrest. The student chose to cut his dreadlocks.

Johnson won the match but the video went viral, causing an uproar and prompting Gov. Phil Murphy to sign the legislation.

Watson Coleman’s office said that the co-leads will seek to pass the bill under rule in the coming weeks.

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