this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025
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137
Valedictorian told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in grad speech (www.cbc.ca)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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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.

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.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 19 hours ago

The school board's trustee "agreed that Yao did not break any rules. She cited the OCDSB's own guidelines, which say "slogans or symbols that signal solidarity, such as 'Free Palestine' etc. are permitted so long as they don't violate the code of conduct.".

And the board said that no students were suspended as a result of the speech.

So why is this principal's panties getting all bunched up for? She called Yao and told her not to go to school even though Yao's not suspended? Sounds like a personal intimidation by the principal to me.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So, the valedictorian was a good student and learned the lessons of history and the values that we would hope for her to learn. Good for her.

I would have been very disappointed to have a principal under me make a choice like that during my career.

The student should receive a public apology from the principal and be allowed to finish her school year with dignity alongside her classmates.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago (2 children)

If anyone is interested in sending an email detailing your thoughts, they have a general email address here:

[email protected]

The school is part of the Ottawa-Carleton district school board with Amanda Presley as the trustee for the Zone. Her email is [email protected]

[–] [email protected] 5 points 18 hours ago

I've written Amanda Presley. You can also write principal Conrad directly through the school contact site https://bellhs.ocdsb.ca/our-school-landing/staff

Principals are bound by Accepting Schools Act, 2012, S.O. 2012, c. 5 - Bill 13 and Bill 14, Anti-Bullying Act, 2011 of Ontario to prevent bullying and intimidation in their schools. A principal who intimidates and bullies her own students cannot carry out her legal duty. This is completely unacceptable behaviour.

Please write to the board. This level of politics is much easier to influence through grassroots activism. A few dozen emails will go far! You can be the change you want to see in the world. Please take 5 minutes and write a short email!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Ahhhh yes, little pp's old riding which he held for 20 years. I'm sure that has nothing to do with the sentiment in the area.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This country is as fucked as our neighbors to the south of our population doesn't start standing up to this bullshit. Hopefully the rest of the Ottawa parents go ape shit at the school and school board for this decision. Then when you win take to the hill and push there.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Frankly the government is waiting for the flames to die down, they don't seem like they would ever actually support the Palestinian cause, whether the people want it to be the case or not

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

And that's why as citizens we have to force the issue. Do what you can to disrupt the every day actions of our government. Write letters, protest, go to your MP's office and voice your concerns loudly, make social media posts, join anti genocide groups. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Organize locally with like minded individuals. Support minorities in your community. Join a mutual aid organization. Volunteer at a food bank. There is a lot we can do to avoid the fate of our neighbors but we must act now. Most of what we can do is build relationships with our fellow Canadians of all religions, political parties, classes and organizations within our own communities. This will focus us on helping one another and those relationships across all lines thus fostering a stronger bond for us against our government inequality and the class war that has been instituted against us.

Do not be passive like our southern neighbors and just allow it to happen.