Virgin Islands CROWN Act Becomes Law, Marks a Significant Achievement for Racial Equality

Historic civil rights legislation, adopted by the 34th Legislature on March 24th, was signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. late last week.

The law, sponsored by Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, and passed unanimously by lawmakers, protects racially identified hairstyles against discrimination under the Virgin Islands Code. With its full ratification from the Governor, The Virgin Islands CROWN Act of 2021, now designated as Act No. 8553 does the following:

· Redefines racial discrimination in employment, housing accommodations, and education to include hair texture and protected hairstyles “including braids, locks, twists, cornrows, Bantu knots, Afros, and other styles in which the hair is tightly coiled, or tightly curled.”

· Prohibits the exclusion of students from participating in any program or receiving any benefit on the basis of race, hair texture or protective hairstyle.

· Prohibits the creation of dress codes and policies that prohibit the wearing of protected hairstyles at school and disciplinary action against students for wearing protective hairstyles.

In a statement from her office, Senator Francis Heyliger thanked her colleagues in the 34th Legislature for their support of the measure, and Governor Albert Bryan Jr. for signing the significant victory for racial equality into the VI Code. Sen. Francis Heyliger expressed her gratitude to Adjoa Asamoah, a co-founder of the CROWN Act Coalition, a partner of the Dove Coalition, with whom she worked closely to craft the CROWN Act in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“For far too long we have witnessed how racial discrimination insidiously creeps into our institutions and denies advancement opportunities on the basis of racial prejudice,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger. “Excluding an individual from gainful employment or education on the basis of hair texture simply provides an alternative route for racial discrimination. The enactment of the Virgin Islands CROWN Act closes that loophole in racial inequality here in the Territory.”

By passing the CROWN Act, the Virgin Islands joins a nationwide initiative to legally protect against racial discrimination due to hair texture or style. The House of Representatives recently passed similar legislation on a federal level, with many State and local jurisdictions enacting their own version of the law.

“I’m proud to see this measure enacted in the interests of protecting the Territory’s citizens against blatant forms of racial discrimination and obstructionist institutional policies,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger. “I hope that the victory achieved here in the Virgin Islands contributes to the overall momentum of the CROWN Act initiative on various local, State and federal levels.”

Sen. Francis Heyliger submitted draft legislation of the Virgin Islands CROWN Act on her first day in office, as part of an overall effort to enrich the people of the Virgin Islands through public education, public access to information and public safety.