A Native American student did not receive her high school diploma and faces a $1,000 fine because she wore a feather during her graduation.
WPMI reports 17-year-old Chelsey Ramer decided to wear the eagle feather during her May 23 graduation at an Alabama high school to honor her heritage. Ramer is a member of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians.
Although the school prohibits graduates from wearing "extraneous items" during the ceremony, Ramer says she asked the headmaster if she could wear the feather anyway. She was denied, and was told she had to sign a dress code contract to walk at graduation.
Ramer did not sign it, and wore the feather in her graduation ceremony anyway. She was denied her diploma, and now must pay a $1,000 fine to the school to receive it and her transcripts, WPMI reports.
Ramer says she feels it was worth it to wear the feather, but is angry over the school's actions.
"I don't think it's fair at all. I feel like its discrimination," Ramer told WPMI.
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