A federal civil rights lawsuit (see attached) has been filed today against the Pearland ISD, a School Discipline Clerk, Head Principal Tony Barcelona, and teacher Jeanette Peterson who May 17, 2019 used a jet-black permanent marker (Sharpie) to blacken the scalp of a never-before-disciplined 7th grader’s head (95 lbs., 4 ft., 11 in.) because they claimed his common African American “fade” haircut with innocuous line design violated the Pearland ISD dress code policy. The school officials did not phone Juelz Trice's parents or hold any hearing as required by law. Had they been phoned, Juelz's parents would have shortened Juelz's hair to get rid of the line design and he would have been back at school the same morning.

The Berry Miler Junior High School officials laughed as they took many minutes to color the 13 year-old Juelz's scalp which then took many days of scrubbing to come off. Juelz was immensely humiliated and shamed. Afterward Pearland ISD changed their dress code hairstyle policy but despite significant media coverage and public outcry the assistant principal has now been installed as Head Principal where J.T. is now in the eighth grade. After several attempts by the parents and their lawyer to resolve the issues with no response, the plaintiffs initiated this instant litigation for training and compensation.

After the incident Pearland ISD Board of Trustees (86% white) Mike Floyd stated: "It's no secret that racism, whether intentional or not, has crept into the code." "The administration has made it clear that they are aware of the Board's stance that provisions which are rooted in cultural or racial inequalities must be changed, and anything less will be unacceptable in my opinion."