A high school valedictorian from North Carolina made headlines after his commencement speech took an unexpected turn. During the ceremony, Leanne Hijaz decided to stray from her pre-approved remarks, launching into a passionate critique of immigration enforcement and calling for support of Palestinians. This dramatic moment was captured in a video of the event.
“Before I leave the stage, I want to say one last thing. Every single person here has a voice. We have the privilege of exercising that voice at a time when millions of people around the world are suffering and don’t want their voices to be heard,” Hijaz declared in a fervent tone.
She continued to highlight global human rights issues, naming various countries, including Palestine and Sudan, and linking them to the consequences of ICE actions on families. “What I’m trying to say is that we are not given a voice to be silenced,” she insisted. Just then, principal Melissa Moore dashed onto the stage and cut her off by pulling her arm away from the microphone.
Afterward, Hijaz returned to her seat, flashing a smile and waving to the audience, seemingly unfazed by the interruption.
Johnston County Public Schools later stated that Hijaz’s speech had included unauthorized remarks. While the school initially faced backlash from her for allegedly withholding her diploma due to the incident, they confirmed that her diploma had ultimately been awarded.
In a statement, school officials explained that the deviation from the approved speech prompted administration to intervene, emphasizing that the goal was to uphold the integrity of the ceremony rather than to stifle student speech.
