On the day of her graduation, the Texas valedictorian Paxton Smith threw out her pre-approved speech and decided to use her platform to condemn the new extreme abortion ban in the state.

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When addressing the graduating class of Lake Highlands high school, Smith criticised the 'heartbeat bill', a law passed by the state's governor, Greg Abbott, in May that prohibits abortions after six weeks, when most people do not know they are pregnant. The near-total ban makes no exception, even in the case of rape or incest. 'I am terrified that if I am raped, then my hopes and aspirations and dreams and efforts for my future will no longer matter,' Smith said.

'It's dehumanizing': Texas valedictorian goes off script to attack abortion ban ► https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/02/texas-valedictorian-graduation-speech-abortion-ban

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