Native American Student Sues To Challenge Dress Code Barring Long Hair

The ACLU of Louisiana announced yesterday that it has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Native American junior high school student challenging the Livingston Parish (LA) Dress Code after the student was suspended for wearing long hair in accordance with the cultural and religious traditions of the United Houma Nations tribe.  The complaint (full text) in  Doe v. Livingston Parish School Board, (MD LA, filed 3/31/2011) claims that the student's free exercise and free expression rights, his rights under the Louisiana Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, and his parents due process rights to control the education and religious upbringing of their son, have all been violated. Houma Courier reports on the lawsuit.