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Leader Stapleton Responds To Offensive Comments
New Mexico House Democrats News:
SANTA FE In Friday’s Senate Rules Committee meeting, Cabinet Secretary Designee Sonya L. Smith was questioned by Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca (R-Belen) on whether her race as an African American precluded her from leading New Mexico’s Department of Veterans Services (Webcast video here. Timestamp 9:55).
House Majority Floor Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) issued the following statement in response:
“I find this line of questioning by Sen. Baca to be borderline racism and completely disrespectful. Questioning a qualified professional because of her race has no place in this Legislature.
New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Ban On School Discrimination For Hair Or Religious Headdresses
New Mexico House Democrats News:
Santa Fe – Thursday, the New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation prohibiting schools’ discrimination or discipline of students based on their use of natural or protective hairstyles, or wearing of cultural or religious headdresses.
Similar to the CROWN Act passed in six other states, House Bill 29: No School Discrimination for Hair is sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque).
In addition to protecting the rights of New Mexican students, the bill also amends the state’s Human Rights Act to include “cultural headdresses” and “protective hairstyles” in the general ban on discrimination based on race.