The kids keep proving to me that it's gonna be okay. This time, it's in the tradition of brave, intelligent, norm-smashing women from Texas putting themselves in the crosshairs for the sake of reproductive rights.
Paxton Smith graduated from Lake Highlands High School on Sunday, and as valedictorian (with merely a 104.93 average) delivered the commencement address. As reported in DMagazine, Smith had written a speech about media, and its impact on her life and worldview, which school officials had approved. After Gov. Greg Abbott signed the regressive, punitive so-called "Heartbeat" bill a couple of weeks ago, though, Smith decided to go a bit rogue herself.
When her time came to deliver her speech, she'd written an entirely different one from the one officials approved, having nothing to do with media and everything to do with abortion rights. She absolutely skewered the new bill, characterizing it as "a war on my body and a war on my rights," and appealed to the empathy of her listeners.
There was talk from school officials, apparently, of withholding her diploma for delivering the unapproved speech, but that has not come to pass. When she was asked what else she wanted people to know, she replied, "Well, I would like them to know that they should register to vote for the next election and to stay involved in local elections because those have more power than I think the media gives them credit for.”
Mark my words, this kid will be on Rachel Maddow or Joy Reid's show in the next 24-48 hours.
The kids are, indeed, very much alright. With praise and encouragement like this, how can they not be?
This is courage. In one of the most conservative districts in Texas. I am in awe. https://t.co/xfClYhb6bc
— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) June 2, 2021
People chiming in to say this school isn’t conservative didn’t play them in high school and leave at halftime because they wouldn’t stop chanting “number 3 has nappy hair” at our one Black player.
— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) June 2, 2021
This, in Texas, from a high school student, shows more courage than 85% of our elected leaders. https://t.co/MUvlRn1kbs
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) June 2, 2021
Wow! Paxton Smith, you are a courageous, brilliant woman. Thank you for using your voice to shed light on the war on women’s autonomy happening in Texas.
The world needs to hear her three minute speech 👇🏽 https://t.co/X07QFwPCB9— Veronica Escobar (@vgescobar) June 2, 2021
Paxton Smith for all the political offices https://t.co/r8jUsILCCi
— Mark Gongloff (@markgongloff) June 2, 2021
This took guts. Thank you for not staying silent, Paxton. https://t.co/DlwEgmMRGN
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 2, 2021
Her speech begins at around 4:35 in the video above.
Read the entire text of the speech here.
