A senior at Barbers Hills High School in Houston, Texas got support from an NFL star in his battle with school officials over the length of his dreadlocks. Deandre Arnold was given an in-school suspension and told he would not be allowed to walk at graduation in the spring unless he cut his dreadlocks to conform with a recently passed update to the school's dress code.
Arnold has refused to cut his hair, and his family has vowed to take the school district to court if they don't relent.
"We're here for Deandre, but it's about more than that,"said Sandy Arnold, Deandre's mother. "This is about all the other Deandres that could come through Barbers Hill."
School officials have defended their actions, issuing a statement saying the policy has been in place for three decades.
"We do have a community-supported hair length policy & have had for decades. Barbers Hill is a state leader with high expectations in all areas,"the school said.
News of Arnold's fight with his school reached Houston Texans star, DeAndre Hopkins. The wide receiver, who also sports dreadlocks, sent a tweet in support of Arnold.
"Never cut your locks Deandre Arnold."