NJ SJR111

Designates July 3 of each year as "CROWN Act Day" in New Jersey to commemorate the state's passage of the CROWN Act on December 19, 2019, making it the third state to enact such legislation after California and New York.

CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) prohibits racial discrimination based on hair texture or protective styles in workplaces and educational settings, addressing policies with disparate impact on African Americans.

Requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

July 3 aligns with National CROWN Day, established by the CROWN Coalition to mark California becoming the first state to sign the CROWN Act into law.

Resolution cites statistics including that African American women are 80% more likely to change their natural hair for work, 3.4 times more likely to have their hair perceived as unprofessional, and 86% of African American teens who experience discrimination report hair-based discrimination by age 12.