Paxton Smith, valedictorian of Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, decided against delivering her approved speech at her graduation on Sunday and opted instead to speak out against her state's newly signed anti-choice law. (Photo: YouTube/screenshot)
Dallas High School Valedictorian Scraps Approved Speech to Speak Out Against State's Extreme Anti-Choice Law
"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," said Paxton Smith.
A Texas high school valedictorian's graduation speech garnered attention from Democratic lawmakers and rights advocates Wednesday after going viral on social media--not for the typical optimism contained in such addresses, but for the student's decision to go off-script and speak out against her state's assault on reproductive rights.
At Lake Highlands High School's graduation on Sunday in Dallas, Paxton Smith scrapped her valedictory address--which had been approved by school officials--and told her audience it felt wrong to her "to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state."
"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."
--Paxton Smith
"Starting in September, there will be a ban on abortions that take place after six weeks of pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest," Smith said, referring to Senate Bill 8, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last month.
In addition to banning abortion care after six weeks of pregnancy, at which point many women don't yet know they're pregnant, the law allows any citizen to sue anyone who "aids or abets" a patient who has an abortion--including clinic employees, friends or family members who drive the patient to their appointment, or providers.
"I have dreams, hopes, and ambitions," said Smith. "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."
Smith's speech begins at the 4:38 mark below:
Smith won praise from lawmakers including Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and state Rep. Julie Johnson, both of whom applauded the graduate's "brave" decision to speak candidly about abortion care in a congressional district that has historically been solidly Republican before voters elected Democratic Rep. Colin Allred in 2018.
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1399907416343523328⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1399896407243427849⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"It gives members of the Texas Women's Health Caucus hope to know that young women like Paxton Smith are out there to carry the torch," said Johnson.
Others on social media echoed the lawmakers' admiration, calling Smith "a force" and thanking her for articulating "the connection between a woman's achievements, opportunities, and control over her body."
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400121894087520257⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400159836457799682⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400153170601558026⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400136422464671748⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"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," Smith said in her speech. "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."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A Texas high school valedictorian's graduation speech garnered attention from Democratic lawmakers and rights advocates Wednesday after going viral on social media--not for the typical optimism contained in such addresses, but for the student's decision to go off-script and speak out against her state's assault on reproductive rights.
At Lake Highlands High School's graduation on Sunday in Dallas, Paxton Smith scrapped her valedictory address--which had been approved by school officials--and told her audience it felt wrong to her "to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state."
"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."
--Paxton Smith
"Starting in September, there will be a ban on abortions that take place after six weeks of pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest," Smith said, referring to Senate Bill 8, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last month.
In addition to banning abortion care after six weeks of pregnancy, at which point many women don't yet know they're pregnant, the law allows any citizen to sue anyone who "aids or abets" a patient who has an abortion--including clinic employees, friends or family members who drive the patient to their appointment, or providers.
"I have dreams, hopes, and ambitions," said Smith. "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."
Smith's speech begins at the 4:38 mark below:
Smith won praise from lawmakers including Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and state Rep. Julie Johnson, both of whom applauded the graduate's "brave" decision to speak candidly about abortion care in a congressional district that has historically been solidly Republican before voters elected Democratic Rep. Colin Allred in 2018.
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1399907416343523328⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1399896407243427849⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"It gives members of the Texas Women's Health Caucus hope to know that young women like Paxton Smith are out there to carry the torch," said Johnson.
Others on social media echoed the lawmakers' admiration, calling Smith "a force" and thanking her for articulating "the connection between a woman's achievements, opportunities, and control over her body."
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400121894087520257⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400159836457799682⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400153170601558026⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400136422464671748⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"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," Smith said in her speech. "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."
A Texas high school valedictorian's graduation speech garnered attention from Democratic lawmakers and rights advocates Wednesday after going viral on social media--not for the typical optimism contained in such addresses, but for the student's decision to go off-script and speak out against her state's assault on reproductive rights.
At Lake Highlands High School's graduation on Sunday in Dallas, Paxton Smith scrapped her valedictory address--which had been approved by school officials--and told her audience it felt wrong to her "to talk about anything but what is currently affecting me and millions of other women in this state."
"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."
--Paxton Smith
"Starting in September, there will be a ban on abortions that take place after six weeks of pregnancy, regardless of whether the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest," Smith said, referring to Senate Bill 8, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last month.
In addition to banning abortion care after six weeks of pregnancy, at which point many women don't yet know they're pregnant, the law allows any citizen to sue anyone who "aids or abets" a patient who has an abortion--including clinic employees, friends or family members who drive the patient to their appointment, or providers.
"I have dreams, hopes, and ambitions," said Smith. "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."
Smith's speech begins at the 4:38 mark below:
Smith won praise from lawmakers including Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and state Rep. Julie Johnson, both of whom applauded the graduate's "brave" decision to speak candidly about abortion care in a congressional district that has historically been solidly Republican before voters elected Democratic Rep. Colin Allred in 2018.
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1399907416343523328⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1399896407243427849⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"It gives members of the Texas Women's Health Caucus hope to know that young women like Paxton Smith are out there to carry the torch," said Johnson.
Others on social media echoed the lawmakers' admiration, calling Smith "a force" and thanking her for articulating "the connection between a woman's achievements, opportunities, and control over her body."
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400121894087520257⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400159836457799682⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400153170601558026⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
[iframe https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=commondreams&creatorUserId=14296273&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3R3ZWV0X2VtYmVkX2NsaWNrYWJpbGl0eV8xMjEwMiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250cm9sIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=true&hideThread=false&id=1400136422464671748⟨=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F06%2F02%2Fdallas-high-school-valedictorian-scraps-approved-speech-speak-out-against-states&sessionId=6ddc1900ff4d4110415a5c7e22dc6831a8145284&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=82e1070%3A1619632193066&width=550px height=None width=None]
"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," Smith said in her speech. "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."