The Clark County School District (CCSD) will issue new guidelines to graduating seniors and school administrators following a recent court decision. This development comes after Federal Judge Richard Boulware ruled that two stoles, one featuring the phrase “Black Girl Magic” on kente cloth and another representing the ACLU of Nevada’s Emerging Leaders Program, are legally protected expressions. These stoles had previously been rejected by a school administrator.
Under the agreement reached with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada, CCSD will inform graduates and administrators by 3 p.m. Monday that students may wear up to five stoles and decorations on their caps and gowns during graduation ceremonies. However, these adornments must not be lewd, obscene, vulgar, profane, promote violence or illicit drug use, or constitute harassment or discrimination.
If any decoration is deemed substantially disruptive or materially interfering as described above, graduates will be asked to remove it to participate in the ceremony. While certain regalia items can still be prohibited if they disrupt the ceremony, pre-approval for stoles and cap decorations will no longer be required.
This policy applies to all CCSD high schools. The district plans to develop a revised policy in collaboration with ACLU of Nevada before concluding the case. The ACLU has urged school administrators to comply with this agreement to avoid further litigation that could involve demands for damages.
Athar Haseebullah, Esq., Executive Director of ACLU of Nevada stated: “It was important for us to bring this case because if we didn’t, our client would have been prohibited from wearing her stole that reads ‘Black Girl Magic’ and those graduates in our Emerging Leaders Youth Leadership Program would have met the same fate depending on the school they attend.” He emphasized that "the First Amendment is for everyone" and expressed gratitude towards Judge Boulware for addressing this matter urgently.
Haseebullah also highlighted the significance of allowing graduates to celebrate their cultures without censorship during such an important milestone in their lives.