Valedictorian told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in grad speech | CBC News (2025-06-16)
Valedictorian told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in grad speech | CBC News (2025-06-16)
Valedictorian told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in grad speech | CBC News (2025-06-16)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/valedictorian-told-to-stay-home-after-making-pro-palestinian-remarks-in-grad-speech-1.5758371
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The valedictorian at a west #Ottawa high school says she's been told not to come to school Monday after she made pro-Palestinian remarks during a speech at her commencement ceremony.
Her comments on the war in Gaza came at the end...
"As a commitment to truth and reconciliation, I must acknowledge colonial and genocidal atrocities today, including the massacre of more than 17,000 Palestinian children in Gaza," ... the crowd cheered.
The next day, ... a call from her principal, who said her statements had "caused harm" and told her she shouldn't come to school on Monday.
That decision is being criticized by some as going against Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (#OCDSB) policy, and Yao said she stands by her speech.