TX high school valedictorian scraps approved speech to speak about R's assault on abortion rights

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:
Sawyer Hackett
@SawyerHackett
Damn. A high school valedictorian in Dallas named Paxton Smith scrapped her approved speech to talk about Republicans’ assault on abortion rights

“I cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body.”

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. K & R!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dalton99a]

2. Her speech:

Paxton Smith
Valedictory Address
May 30, 2021

As we leave high school we need to make our voices heard. I was going to get up here and talk to you about TV and content and media because those are things that are very important to me. However, in light of recent events, it feels wrong to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state.

Recently the heartbeat bill was passed in Texas. Starting in September, there will be a ban on abortions that take place after 6 weeks of pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest. 6 weeks. Most women don’t even realize they’re pregnant by then. And so, before they have the time to decide if they are emotionally, physically, and financially stable enough to carry out a full-term pregnancy, before they have the chance to decide if they can take on the responsibility of bringing another human into the world, the decision has been made for them by a stranger. A decision that will affect the rest of their lives.

I have dreams, hopes, and ambitions. Every girl here does. We have spent our whole lives working towards our futures, and without our consent or input, our control over our futures has been stripped away from us. I am terrified that if my contraceptives fail me, that if I’m raped, then my hopes and efforts and dreams for myself will no longer be relevant. I hope you can feel how gut-wrenching it is, how dehumanizing it is, to have the autonomy over your own body taken from you.

And I’m talking about this today, on a day as important as this, on a day honoring the students’ efforts in twelve years of schooling, on a day where we’re all brought together, on a day where you will be the most inclined to hear a voice like mine, a woman’s voice, to tell you that this is a problem. A problem that can’t wait. I refuse to give up this platform to promote complacency and peace, when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights. A war on the rights of your sisters, a war on the rights of your mothers, a war on the rights of your daughters.

We cannot stay silent.

[Biophilic]

6. Thanks for posting the speech. I'm hard of hearing and usually just skip over

the videos, but I honestly wanted to hear what this young woman said.

[a kennedy]

3. Gotta have faith some younger voices ARE gonna get through eh?? 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[Goodheart]

4. Hooray for you, Paxton!

I'm wondering if her speech had been screened. If so, hooray for the school official(s) who allowed it.

I can picture a lot of people squirming in their seats.

[Biophilic]

7. My understanding from another earlier post was that she scrapped her approved speech

and gave this one instead. Lots of courage. Hooray for her is right.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. Fabulous speech.

Were it not for the women before me who marched, were arrested for the right to control their own bodies and destinies,we find ourselves STILL having to march and fight for our rights.

[onetexan]

8. Damn! She Rocks!

This young lady is a dynamo! I hope she will consider a career in politics one day. She's headed off to UT - Hook 'em!!


https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2021/06/lhhs-valedictorian-overwhelmed-with-messages-after-graduation-speech-on-reproductive-rights/