LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The ACLU of Nevada says a Clark County school could be breaking the law by blocking students from wearing traditional regalia at graduation with their cap and gown.
Eldorado High School senior Jocelynne Zepeda said the school initially denied her request to wear this custom-made regalia for her graduation, with the Guatemalan flag representing her mother’s side and Mexico for her late father.
“Mexico is to represent my dad who passed away this past year, and he wasn’t able to make it, and I want to show him, and I want him to be proud. I’m proud of who I am because that’s who he is,” she said.
Jocelynne’s mother Katie Frano said she submitted photos of her regalia for approval on April 2, per the school’s instructions.
“And I never got a response until May 6,” she said, “and in her email, the administration for Eldorado just said that we ask that they only wear things received by Eldorado during the ceremony.”
Franco got in touch with the ACLU of Nevada, which had already sent a letter to CCSD last month, demanding that they rescind their graduation participation agreement outlining the ceremony dress code, citing a state bill that was passed just last year to allow students to wear cultural and religious items at graduation.
“Students are being told that they can’t wear stoles representing their national origin, and that is a total insult and violation of AB73,” said Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of ACLU of Nevada.
CCSD sent this statement to FOX5 Wednesday: “As of April 19, 2024, the Clark County School District rescinded the Graduation Participation Agreement. Students are permitted to wear traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance as an adornment to their cap and gown in accordance with AB73. CCSD encourages all students and families to be mindful of the occasion and respectful of their fellow graduates so that everyone can enjoy the ceremony equally.”
However, Jocelynne’s request at Eldorado was still initially denied.
“It’s incumbent on the district’s leadership to advise these schools about what they are permitted and not permitted to do, and what they’re not permitted to do is block a student who’s wearing a stole that represents their heritage, their culture, their traditional norms that have been already permitted by law by AB73,” said Haseebullah.
As of Wednesday, Jocelynne’s regalia has now been approved for graduation, but she said some other students’ have not.
“We want approval for everyone, so I will keep pushing, I’ll keep pushing, and I’ll email, and if I get no response, we’ll see how far up I can take it,” said Franco.
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