In a surprising turn of events at a North Carolina high school graduation, the valedictorian’s speech took an unexpected twist, spotlighting criticism of Israel and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This led to her abrupt removal from the podium, as captured in a startling video.
Leen Hijaz, a graduating senior at Clayton High School, veered from her sanctioned graduation address on Thursday, launching into a passionate critique of immigration policies and expressing solidarity with Palestine. This deviation was confirmed by both the ceremony’s video and school district representatives.
“Before I leave the stage, I want to say one last thing. Everyone here has a voice; we are privileged to use it while millions globally struggle to be heard,” Hijaz declared fervently.
She continued, “Whether it’s the suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan, or families separated by ICE, these issues aren’t just distant—they’re occurring as I speak, right here.”
Hijaz’s impassioned speech was abruptly interrupted when principal Melissa Moore hurried to the stage, pulling her away from the microphone mid-sentence, as shown in the footage.
Returning to her seat, Hijaz appeared unfazed, smiling and waving to the audience as she settled back in her place on the stage.
The Muslim teen proceeded to whine on TikTok last week, accusing the school of refusing to give her a diploma after the now-viral stunt, moaning that it made her feel “oppressed.”
However, the teen’s diploma has since been “awarded,” Johnston County Public Schools said Tuesday.
“During this year’s Clayton High School graduation, a student departed from her approved remarks,” school leaders told The Post in a statement.
“School administrators intervened in order to maintain the integrity and focus of the program in real time. This action was not about limiting a student’s voice, but about ensuring that a school-sponsored event remained consistent with its intended purpose.”
