AMITE - The Tangipahoa Parish NAACP said it will participate in a rally Monday with friends and relatives of a high school valedictorian who was not allowed to walk across the stage last week because he had facial hair.

WBRZ and WBRZ.com first reported about Andrew Jones Thursday. The night before, Jones said Amite High School officials made him sit in the audience instead of participate in ceremonies because he had not shaved.

"They were just straight… you either got to shave or you ain't going to graduate," Jones said in a TV interview with WBRZ.

Jones has a 4.0 and is an athlete. Jones is set to play football for Southeastern in the fall.

"They took my gown off of me, they told me I had to give them the gown," Jones said.

Monday, supporters said they will rally outside the Tangipahoa Parish School System office in Amite at 2 p.m.

School system officials said last week Jones was warned about his facial hair before the ceremony and knew school policy.

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