NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana honors student and standout athlete who was blocked from participating in his graduation ceremony last month because of facial hair is getting the celebration he was denied.

Democratic state Rep. Katrina Jackson of Monroe and the Rev. Roosevelt Wright III of New Orleans are sponsoring a delayed ceremony for Andrew Jones. The new celebration is scheduled Friday at 7 p.m. at the African-American Heritage Museum in Hammond.

Tangipahoa Parish Schools Superintendent Mark Kolwe has defended the decision to prohibit Jones, a 4.0 student and his class' valedictorian, from walking with his class at Amite High School, saying rules have to be enforced and Jones received enough warning before the ceremony to shave.

 

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