Texas High School Student Ditches Valedictorian Speech, Speaks Out Against State's New Anti-Abortion Laws
A Texas high school valedictorian has gone viral after she dropped her pre-approved speech and instead used her allotted time to criticise the state's anti-abortion laws.
A Texas high school valedictorian has gone viral after she dropped her pre-approved speech and instead used her allotted time to criticise the state's anti-abortion laws.
Paxton Smith, the valedictorian at Lake Highlands High School Class of 2021, had received approval to give a speech in which she discussed her perception of the media, CNN reported.
In Texas, Lake Highlands High School valedictorian, Paxton Smith, switched out her approved speech to talk about abortion rights. pic.twitter.com/4xsoHARDSs
¡ª Kolleen (@littlewhitty) June 2, 2021
Instead, Smith attacked the anti-abortion bill signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in May.
Known as the "heartbeat" bill, the law bans abortions after six weeks and does not provide exceptions for rape or incest. The legislation is due to take effect in September.
Twitter/@littlewhitty
"I cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace, when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights," Smith said during her speech.
"I have dreams, and hopes and ambitions. Every girl graduating today does," Smith said. She later added, "And without our input and without our consent, our control over that future has been stripped away from us."
Smith concluded her speech by stating, "We cannot stay silent."
Her remarks came less than two weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott signed new restrictions into law that ban abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected ¡ª as early as six weeks.
The speech has been viewed millions of times across YouTube, Twitter and TikTok, being praised by many.
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 presidential candidate, tweeted: "This took guts. Thank you for not staying silent, Paxton."
Also read: How To Help Children Cope Without School, Keep Busy In Lockdown? These Class 12 Students Tell
This took guts. Thank you for not staying silent, Paxton. https://t.co/DlwEgmMRGN
¡ª Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 2, 2021
Local Democratic politician Beto O'Rourke thanked Paxton for "inspiring Texas with your refusal to accept injustice as the price of participation in civic life".
