At a graduation ceremony in Clayton, North Carolina, a high school valedictorian was escorted off the stage after straying from her approved speech to speak about issues involving ICE and Palestine.
Leanne Hijaz, a senior at Creighton High School, began her address by stating, “There’s one last thing I want to say before I walk off stage,” as reported by the Daily Mail.
She went on to say, “Every single person here has a voice, and we have the privilege of exercising that voice at a time when millions of people around the world are struggling and suffering to be heard.” She highlighted the suffering in various countries, including Palestine and Sudan, and mentioned families shattered by ICE, insisting, “These are not distant issues.”
Hijaz emphasized, “They are happening even as I speak,” asserting that their voices should not be silenced.
Footage shows Principal Melissa Moore intervening, pulling Hijaz away from the podium. Despite the situation, Hijaz waved to the audience as she returned to her seat.
In interviews afterwards, including on social media, Hijaz claimed that school officials threatened to withhold her diploma. She expressed feeling “suppressed” by their actions.
She remarked, “It hurt so much because you’re allowed three prayers in your entire speech, but the moment I said something to spread awareness, I was the one who was kicked off the stage.” She recounted that the principal told her, “You can get your diploma.”
Johnston County Public Schools confirmed to the New York Post that Hijaz did receive her diploma.
School officials stated that during the ceremony, a student deviated from their approved speech, and efforts were made to maintain the program’s integrity. They clarified that this action was not intended to limit student speech but to ensure that the events stayed true to their original purpose.
