Democratic lawmakers in Rhode Island complain that senate dress code mandating blouses, slacks, collared shirts and jackets is 'oppressive' and biased towards white people

Daily Mail ^ | March 25, 2021 | Andrew Court

[rickmichaels]

Several young lawmakers in Rhode Island have complained that the state's senate dress code is 'oppressive' and biased towards white people.

The Rhode Island Senate approved a dress code in a 29-7 vote on Tuesday, mandating that elected officials wear 'proper and appropriate attire, such as blouses, dress slacks and collared shirts with an accompanying jacket'.

And while most Democrats voted to pass the measure, seven left-wing senators dissented, including newly elected Sen. Jonathan Acosta, 31.

Speaking on the floor during a debate on the issue, Acosta claimed it was 'super inappropriate' for a white, male senate president to 'bestow a normative judgment' on what people were able to wear.

'These rules make it okay for us to judge people based on the way they dress or how they look, and I just feel that's super problematic,' Acosta stated.

He called the dress code 'oppressive' and added: 'Folks use expressions like "professional", "presentable", and "appropriate". What they mean is white-collar, White western dress.'

During the debate, Acosta purposefully donned a black guayabera - a traditional Caribbean dress shirt that does not have a collar.

Acosta claimed that the senate dress code has not been widely enforced, and said that he has been wearing cardigans, joggers and Air Jordan sneakers for weeks.

'I assure you that what I wear does not influence the quality of the work I produce,' he stated.

[fieldmarshaldj]

[Magnatron]

We've lost something.

This is the way people used to fly:

This is how they fly now:

This is how people used to walk the boardwalk:

This is how they walk it now:

This was a well dressed senator:

This is a senator now:

[A Navy Vet]

Sorry, I don’t believe Antifa has any values, unless anarchy is a value.

[nascarnation]

In Catholic high school in the 60 we wore white shirt with ties and sport coats. In the warm months of May and Sept the sport coats were optional.

[Bonemaker]

"...wear 'proper and appropriate attire, such as blouses, dress slacks .

Ban

Pants suits

in the name of the loving God!

[Does so]

There’s always the hijab for women...

[leaning conservative]

It sounds very Jr. high school girl.

[reg45]

Orange and Black prison garb would be more appropriate.

[daniel1212]

Based on the logic behind this any dress code is oppressive, including one that even requires clothes!

[AAABEST]

Maybe we should put some bones through our fkn noses, so as to appear less white.

[bert]

Africaninization continues unabated

Making America Africa is retrograde mediocrenizaton. Lowering standards to those unequal to cope is Un civilizing and a reversion to the jungle and savannah from whence the unfortunate unequal’s sprung

Political commentary

[Clemenza]

Senor Acosta looks very Euro, but probably has some African in the woodpile. Barely a “person of color.”

He is right about one thing: Guayaberas look cool and are very comfortable.

[Clemenza]

My grandfather told me about how men would wear a jacket and tie to the racetrack.