ACLU: N.J. wrestling incident isn’t about hair, but rather about race

Updated: 1:24 p.m. EST

A New Jersey high school wrestler had his dreadlocks cut off minutes before his match after a referee told him to lose the hairstyle or forfeit his bout.

An SNJ Today reporter tweeted video of Buena Regional High School wrestler Andrew Johnson getting his hair cut court-side. He went on to win Wednesday’s match, but appeared visibly distraught.

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A referee wouldn’t allow Andrew Johnson of Buena @brhschiefs to wrestle with a cover over his dreadlocks. It was either an impromptu haircut, or a forfeit. Johnson chose the haircut, then won by sudden victory in OT to help spark Buena to a win. pic.twitter.com/f6JidKNKoI

— Mike Frankel (@MikeFrankelSNJ) December 20, 2018

Johnson, who is black, had a cover over his hair, but the referee Alan Maloney, who is white, said that wouldn’t do.

The state’s Interscholastic Athletic Association said in a statement they are recommending Maloney not be assigned to any event until the matter has been reviewed more thoroughly.

The Division on Civil Rights has also opened an investigation into what happened, said Leland Moore, a spokesman for Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

The school superintendent said in a letter to the community that they support and stand by all student athletes.

“The student-athlete made the decision to have his hair cut, at that moment, in order to avoid a forfeiture of the match,” wrote Superintendent David Cappuccio, adding that school officials reached out to the athletic association afterward. “The district will take appropriate action as more details become available.”

The video was shared widely on social media, with users calling the incident “racist,” ”cruel” and “humiliating.”

Maloney came under fire in 2016 for using a racial slur against a black referee, according to the Courier Post newspaper.

At a private gathering between officials at a condominium, Maloney allegedly poked referee Preston Hamilton, who is black, in the chest and allegedly used a racial slur during an argument over homemade wine. Hamilton slammed Maloney to the ground, according to the Courier Post.

Maloney told the newspaper he did not remember making the comments.

After Hamilton reported the incident, Maloney agreed to participate in sensitivity training and an alcohol awareness program. Maloney was to be suspended for one year for his use of the slur and Hamilton would receive the same suspension for assaulting Maloney. Both officials appealed their suspensions, which were overturned.

A woman answering the phone at a listed number for Maloney said the ordeal is being blown out of proportion and the referee was simply following rules.

Wrestlers are allowed to wear legal hair covers during matches, according to wrestling rules set by the National Federation of State High School Associations, NJ.com reports. If a wrestler’s hair in its natural state extends below the earlobe on the sides or touches the top of a normal shirt, it’s required to be secured in a hair cover

The ACLU of New Jersey tweeted that the incident isn’t about hair, but rather about race.

This is not about hair. This is about race. How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?

We’re so sorry this happened to you, Andrew. This was discrimination, and it’s not okay. https://t.co/DK6Efj8ct4

— ACLU of New Jersey (@ACLUNJ) December 21, 2018

“How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?” it reads. “We’re so sorry this happened to you, Andrew. This was discrimination, and it’s not OK.”

Olympic champion wrestler Jordan Burroughs reached out to Johnson on Saturday.

Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion, posted and spoke on social media about the incident Wednesday at the Buena Regional High School match, saying he had never seen anything like it in a quarter-century of wrestling.

Olympic gold medalist wrestler Jordan Burroughs weighs in on high school wrestler Andrew Johnson being forced to cut his dreadlocks before a match
(via @alliseeisgold) pic.twitter.com/13C3FAJwDq

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 22, 2018

“This is nonsense,” a message on Burroughs’ twitter account said. “My opinion is that this was a combination of an abuse of power, racism, and just plain negligence.” In a video posted on Instagram, he criticized parents and coaching staff at the match for not intervening, calling it “absolutely shameful.”

Burroughs drew attention to his demeanor, saying, “He was hurting, and that wasn’t fair.”

Burroughs called Johnson “courageous” for his performance in the match despite “all of the adversity and racism that you were facing in the moment” and said he understood his reasons for agreeing to the haircut, although it might have been “more powerful” to walk away.

Burroughs also said he hoped to be in touch with Johnson soon and promised to send him “a few cool things for Christmas.”