Clayton teen says she was denied a diploma because she talked about ICE and Palestine in her welcome speech.

Leanne Hijaz, a Muslim student of Palestinian origin from Clayton High School, Missouri, said her principal was not giving her a diploma because she gave a controversial graduation speech, which was also interrupted by her principal. During Clayton High School’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 28, Leanne Hijaz gave the welcome address and as she reached the closing remarks of her speech, Hijaz began speaking about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Palestine.“Before I leave the stage, I have to say one last thing. Every single person here has a voice; we have the privilege of using it when millions of people around the world are suffering and struggling to be heard. Be it the millions of people suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and many other countries around the world, or the families being torn apart by ICE. These are not just an issue there; As I speak, they are happening there, they are happening right here. My point is that we have not been given a voice to be silenced,” she said.While the event was being livestreamed, it was captured on camera that a woman, the principal, was seen stopping Hijaz.After that video went viral, Hijaz admitted that the ending of his speech was spontaneous and not pre-approved.Hijaz said, “I was extremely afraid to say something and wasn’t really planning on doing so, but I had a lot of support from the friends and family around me and they encouraged me to say something.” “I didn’t say everything I wanted to say, but I said a lot.”Johnston County Public Schools said students were required to submit their comments in advance of graduation, and one student deviated from what was pre-approved by administrators, WRAL reported. The district said, “School administrators intervened to maintain the integrity and focus of the program in real time. This action was not about limiting any student’s voice, but about ensuring that the school-sponsored program remained consistent with its intended purpose.”Johnston County Public Schools did not specifically state that Hijaz’s diploma was withheld as a result of the speech.