January 30, 2021 at 3:04 PM
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Ruby Williams on the first day she was sent home because of her hair. (image via Kate Williams)
It all started out well enough. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, a U.K. government office charged with the promotion and enforcement of equality and non-discrimination laws, sent out a tweet about a student, Ruby Williams, who was told her natural hair worn in an afro style violated the school’s uniform policy. The EHRC got involved in the matter and the school did away with its policy. The tweet contained the message, “The Equality Act 2010 is clear; no one should face discrimination because of their race,” and contained a short video about the case.
A barrister has become embroiled in a racism row after he called a schoolgirl who won a discrimination settlement a stroppy teenager of colour .
Jon Holbrook commented on the case of Ruby Williams, now 18, who was awarded £8,500 following an Equality Act case against her school in east London.
She was 14 when she was told by Urswick School in Hackney that her Afro hairstyle was against their uniform policy and sent home from her classes.
Mr Holbrook, who was called to the Bar 30 years ago, retweeted a post by the Equality and Human Rights Commission which referred to the case on January 17.