‘My Look Was Not Acceptable’: Female Police Commander Says She Was Harassed and Demoted Because She Won’t ‘Tone Down’ Her Hairstyle, Sues City of Miami for $1 Million

An 18-year veteran of the Miami Police Department launched legal action against the City of Miami, claiming she was harassed for 290 days and ultimately demoted from her job as commanding officer because of a dispute over her hair. Weslyne Lewis Francois filed the lawsuit on Oct. 11, accusing Miami Chief of Police Manuel Morales of waging a racist campaign to undermine and destroy her career because she would not “tone down” her look at his request, specifically her hairstyle. Francois is seeking at least $1 million in damages, along with a jury trial, for being discriminated against and victimized because of her race and ethnicity. She also claims she was retaliated against for filing a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Weslyne Lewis Francois (Photo: LinkedIn) “Chief Morales’ actions were aimed at undermining the identities of Black women, reinforcing a narrative of superiority that positioned them as lesser individuals,” states the complaint obtained by Atlanta Black Star. The trouble with Morales began shortly after Francois’ last promotion in 2020, according to the suit. After serving in the U.S. Army, she devoted nearly two decades to the force, rising through the ranks from a temporary position to...