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An elementary school in Biloxi, Miss. is under fire after forcing eight-year-old Makiyah-Jae to change out of her “Black Girls Rock” shirt.

According to Makiyah-Jae’s mother Sharika Jolly, her daughter has worn the tee to Popps Ferry Elementary before without any issues. This time, however, the principal found the apparel “problematic.” When Sharika called the school to question the decision, the principal explained that he chose to discipline Makiyah-Jae even though the shirt did not violate any school policies:

“He said they made a judgment call, then I proceeded to ask well, who are the judges judging my 8-year-old,” Jolly said. “And he said ‘Well, I’m the principal so I made the call.'”

Two days later, an administrator from the school district called to apologize for the incident. Superintendent Arthur McMillan told WLOX “we probably overreached,” saying:

“Sometimes with decisions we make even as parents, we go back and look and think I wish I’d made that decision different. I think that’s the situation here. If he could make that decision again, he’d probably say ‘Hey, you know that’s not a big deal,’ but you’re always guarding against how do we not offend anybody.”

Sharika said she bought the “Black Girls Rock” shirt for her daughter during a time when Makiyah-Jae was suffering from self-esteem issues. Despite the decision, Makiyah-Jae will continue to wear the shirt to school.

SOURCE & VIDEO CREDIT: Huffington Post, WLOX

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