March 14th 2024.
The NAACP is showing support for a former NFL player who is speaking out against a ShopRite in Connecticut for allegedly discriminating against a young girl because of her colored braids. The player, Andrew Pinnock, who used to play for the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, strongly believes that his daughter was unfairly treated at the ShopRite in Enfield, Connecticut. He has joined forces with the Connecticut and Greater Hartford branches of the NAACP and together they held a press conference on Wednesday, March 13th to bring attention to the situation. According to WFSB, Pinnock is accusing the store of violating the Crown Act, a law that was recently signed by Gov. Ned Lamont.
In a statement, the NAACP expressed their disappointment in the store's actions, saying, "It has come to our attention that a Black employee was asked to leave work because she had red coloring in her hair. This discriminatory action by the management at ShopRite is unacceptable and goes against the Crown Act recently signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont." Pinnock shared that his daughter was only two months into her first job and was excited to experiment with different hairstyles, including red-colored braids. He became emotional while recounting how his daughter felt embarrassed and unsure of what to do when she was told she couldn't wear her braids.
During the press conference, state lawmakers also joined in to support the cause and brought up the Crown Act, which aims to protect people from discrimination based on their hairstyles, particularly those commonly worn by people of color. "And to know this young lady came to work to do a job and was sent home because of her hair. It just doesn't make sense," said Rep. Robyn Porter, who represents the state's 94th District.
The NAACP is calling on the local community and advocates to stand up against the "unjust treatment" that Pinnock's daughter faced at the ShopRite. The store has released a statement in response to the incident, but it did not directly address the situation. Instead, it acknowledged the passage of the Crown Act and stated, "ShopRite of Enfield has always been committed to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging for the associates we employ, the customers we serve, and the suppliers with whom we do business. All are to be treated with dignity and respect."
This incident is not an isolated one. In New Jersey, a teenage basketball player was benched because of her hair beads, which was considered a violation of the Crown Act. It is clear that discrimination based on hairstyles is still prevalent, and the NAACP is determined to fight against it.
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