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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h/t https://mastodon.social/@RealJournalism/114692813424144197

>> 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.

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