*Dozens of students protested outside of a prominent girls high school in South Africa on Monday, stating a hair policy at their school discriminates against black and Muslim students.
“Right now, learners at Pretoria High School are demanding that racist practices at the school are brought to an end,” read a petition sent to the province’s head of education and the school’s headmistress. “Girls attending the school have been forced to straighten their hair; are accused of conspiring when standing in groups and face other intolerable comments and actions.”
The students said they were told they’d be barred from taking their exams if they did not straighten their hair or wore dreadlocks.
In less than 24 hours, the petition has gathered more than 18,000 signatures calling on Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for the Gauteng province in South Africa, and the school’s headmistress to take action so that its code of conduct “does not discriminate against black and Muslim girls.”
“I’m truly sorry and I can assure you that it ends here,” Lesufi said according to News24. “You have my support and I will protect you. Your pain will never again continue for as long as I’m still the MEC in this province.”
Although the school’s code of conduct handbook does not specifically require girls to straighten their hair (see below), students say they were told verbally that straightened hair was not allowed.
Tiisetso Phelta, a former Pretoria High student, confirmed that officials would regularly tell girls their hair looked untidy and inappropriate and urged them to “flatten it somehow.”
“Why must you be apologetic for being a black African child in South Africa?” Phelta said. “Why do black girls always receive the shortest end of the stick?”
Watch below:
Tiisetso Phetla former pupil at the school says, she experienced this #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh pic.twitter.com/QsTlSf9rTw
— Zikhona Tshona (@ZikhonaTshona) August 29, 2016
Below, more sights and sounds from today’s protest, via #StopRacismPretoriaGirlsHigh:
Her name is Zulaikha. She’s 13 years old. She’s been in detention for her hair before. She is the future. pic.twitter.com/xCmvVAfbnI
— The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) August 29, 2016
The feels. The chills. School girls threatened with arrest. And how they respond ✊? #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh pic.twitter.com/DNr1lhpiN4
— The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) August 29, 2016
Protestors are demanding to be let into the school #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh pic.twitter.com/OPMBKSVpU3
— Mishka (@ANicheOfLight) August 29, 2016
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