A 12-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department has filed a formal complaint accusing the city of racial discrimination.
Bariq Fluellen, who has served since 2013 and wears his hair in locs as part of his cultural and religious identity as a Black man and Rastafarian, alleges that the department’s grooming policy unfairly targets Black firefighters and has led to harassment, threats, and a hostile work environment
The complaint was filed Wednesday with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Brought by the Public Interest Law Center, the action claims the department’s policy violates the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act by prohibiting protective and culturally significant hairstyles without any legitimate safety justification.
“This is about more than hair, it is about dignity and the right to exist in a public institution without being targeted for one’s identity,” said Olivia Mania, attorney and Penn Carey Law Catalyst Fellow at the Public Interest Law Center. “We are proud to support Mr. Fluellen’s fight for fairness and accountability.”…