African American girl, 11, removed from middle school class because her 'brown leggings made her look naked'

By Daily Mail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 17:53 EST, 12 September 2012 | UPDATED: 17:56 EST, 12 September 2012

An 11-year-old honors student was ripped out of class in Los Angeles on Friday after a teacher's aid said her attire was inappropriate because her brown leggings made her look
nude.

Deja Tunstill was sent to the principal's office at Mount Gleason Middle School for the very first time, embarrassed by the incident and sent home to her mother.

But mother Yolanda Tunstill plans on fighting back, demanding answers as to why her child was humiliated and discriminated against, she said.

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Sent Home:

Sent Home: Deja Tunstill was sent to the principal's office at Mount Gleason Middle School for the very first time, embarrassed by the incident and sent home to her mother

But mother Yolanda Tunstill plans on fighting back, demanding answers as to why her child was humiliated and discriminated against, she said
But mother Yolanda Tunstill plans on fighting back, demanding answers as to why her child was humiliated and discriminated against, she said

Outrage: But mother Yolanda Tunstill, left, plans on fighting back, demanding answers as to why her child was humiliated and discriminated against, she said. Deja is pictured in her brown tights, right

'I can understand if they said okay, this type of material, this type of clothing,' Mrs Tunstill told KTLA.

'But for you to make a remark to state because the pants were brown and to make a remark about my daughter's skin color... That was not right to me.'

 

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Deja has worn those same leggings for years, in blue, leopard, red and gray, almost like a daily uniform.

The soft-spoken student has never had any problems before with the item of clothing, her mother said.

Story:

Story: The Los Angeles Unified School District denied that the 11-year-old was sent home because of the color of her tights, but they did say the teacher's aid was out of line

Tights

Tights: Deja has worn those same leggings for years, in blue, leopard, red and gray, almost like a daily uniform

'I felt discriminated against,' Mrs Tunstill, told KTLA. 'Shocked... like, I mean are you serious? I can't believe this.'

The Los Angeles Unified School District denied that the 11-year-old was sent home because of the color of her tights, but they did say the teacher's aid was out of line.

The school dress code specifically prohibits 'sleepwear, loungewear, or tights worn alone.'

'She wears them all the time, all the time,' Mrs Tunstill insisted. 'There has never been a problem before until she wore the brown ones, and then it became a problem.'

The soft-spoken student has never had any problems before with the item of clothing, her mother said
The soft-spoken student has never had any problems before with the item of clothing, her mother said

Pattern: The soft-spoken student has never had any problems before with the item of clothing, her mother said

The district sent the family an explanatory note that said it was not the color of the tights, but the tights themselves that were inappropriate.

They also added that the teacher's assistant had been appropriately disciplined.

Mrs Tunstill was not satisfied by the note and plans to take legal action against the district.

 
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I knew this would be about race. What if it was a white girl with peach leggings? Or maybe it wasn't because of the color, maybe they were too "revealing" and the school just didn't be explicit

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Idiocy in an institution trusted to educate our young. If I had kids there I'd make my feelings known. Just appalling.

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Sometimes I can't believe this is really 2012. The leggings and the girl's skin are not the same colour!!!!!! Are these blankety-blanks angry because she's an honour student? Something she's not "supposed" to be. I hope her mother sues the pants off that school!!

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If those are the same leggings they are blind or stupid because they look nothing like that girls skin tone

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stupidity

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