PHOENIX — July 3 is National Crown Day, also known as Black Hair Independence Day, marking the anniversary of the CROWN Act’s first signing in California in 2019.
The CROWN Act — Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair — prohibits race-based hair discrimination in workplaces and schools. Since California first signed it into law on July 3, 2019, 30 states and more than 50 cities have adopted CROWN Act protections.
Arizona does not have a statewide law, but Gov. Katie Hobbs signed an executive order in 2023 protecting state employees and public-school students. Cities like Tempe and Tucson have their own protections, though statewide legislation failed in June 2026…