{"id":1069,"date":"2026-06-02T17:43:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1069"},"modified":"2026-06-02T17:43:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:43:07","slug":"high-school-valedictorian-yanked-from-stage-after-hijacking-speech-to-rant-against-israel-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1069","title":{"rendered":"High school valedictorian yanked from stage after hijacking speech to rant against Israel, ICE"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>A North Carolina high school valedictorian hijacked her graduation speech to rant against Israel and ICE \u2014 and was dramatically yanked from the podium, shocking video showed. <\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1067\">Hey, Zohran: Your \u2018new\u2019 magic housing plan has been failing for decades<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Clayton High School senior Leen Hijaz was delivering the commencement speech Thursday when she ditched her pre-approved remarks, unleashing a fiery tirade blasting immigration enforcement and backing the Palestinian cause, according to ceremony footage and district officials.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore I leave the stage, I have one last thing to say. Every single person here has a voice; we have the privilege to use it when millions around the world are struggling and suffering to be heard,\u201d Hijaz raged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhether it\u2019s the millions suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and so many other countries around the world, or families being torn apart by ICE. These are not just an issue here; they are happening there, they\u2019re happening right here as I speak.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy point is, we\u2019re not given a voice to stay silent,\u201d she shouted as high school principal Melissa Moore rushed to the stage and cut her off, pulling her by the arm from the microphone, the video showed.<\/p>\n<p>Hijaz then returned to her seat on the stage, smirking and waving to the crowd as she sat down.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1065\">AJ Brown explains how Jalen Hurts friendship deteriorated before Patriots trade<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>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 \u201coppressed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, the teen\u2019s diploma has since been \u201cawarded,\u201d Johnston County Public Schools said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring this year\u2019s Clayton High School graduation, a student departed from her approved remarks,\u201d school leaders told The Post in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSchool administrators intervened in order to maintain the integrity and focus of the program in real time. This action was not about limiting a student\u2019s voice, but about ensuring that a school-sponsored event remained consistent with its intended purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=1063\">Long Island man stabbed by deranged woman died in dad\u2019s arms while horrified mom watched him take last breaths<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A North Carolina high school valedictorian hijacked her graduation speech to rant against Israel and ICE &#8212; and was dramatically yanked from the podium, shocking video showed. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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