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.

Elizabeth Yao largely focused on highlights from the past four years at Bell High School during her speech on Thursday, including a memorable waffle fundraiser and the days spent dozing off while reading Shakespeare.

Her comments on the war in Gaza came at the end, after a land acknowledgement.

“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,” Yao said, breaking off as the crowd cheered.

  • teppa@piefed.caEnglish
    0·
    1 day ago

    What is Israel doing to Palestine?

    They’re bombing them, but is their goal to wipe out all terrorists, or what?

    • CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca
      0·
      18 hours ago

      It appears they define ‘terrorist’ as 'anyone who is a terrorist, or knows a terrorist, or has family members that is a terrorist, or knows someone whose family member is a terrorist, or knows someone who is friends with someone whose family member is a terrorist, or is a reporter"

      In the end, its a land grab, they want to take West Bank over.

      • Eranziel@lemmy.world
        0·
        15 hours ago

        And you don’t need to take anyone’s second hand word for it. If you do a little looking, Israeli officials have said as much, in so many words, numerous times.

        It’s intentional, systematic genocide. There’s no two ways about it.