Black leaders, state legislators rally in Harrisburg to pass CROWN Act

With a heavy contingency from Philadelphia, Black leaders and state legislators rallied Tuesday in Harrisburg, pushing the state Senate to pass the CROWN Act and ban discrimination on how hair is worn by people, especially women, of color. At the podium is State Rep. La’Tasha Mayes sponsored the legislation. IMAGE/TRIBUNE STAFF Marco Cerino, PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER & Pennsylvania House Democrats joined leaders in the Black community Tuesday to call on the Senate to advance the CROWN Act and ban discrimination on how hair is worn by people, especially women, of color. The House passed the legislation that puts hairstyles like braids, Afros, and coils into protection from workplace discrimination by a 182-21 vote on July 7. However, it has not received a hearing in the Senate State Government committee after the referral. State Rep. La’Tasha Mayes sponsored the legislation and hosted the rally on the Capitol steps. The West Philadelphia native serves in the Pittsburgh district formerly represented by Mayor Ed Gainey thanked her colleagues for the support and encouraged the Republican-led Senate to support her bill as Republicans did in the House. “This is what we can do when we work together,” she said of the bipartisan support...