Paxton Smith: High school Valedictorian Ditches Original Speech To Speak Out Against Texas’ New Abortion Law

On the day of her graduation, Lake Highlands High School valedictorian Paxton Smith threw out her pre-approved speech and decided to use her platform to speak up for abortion rights. Smith called out the “heartbeat bill,” a law passed by Governor Greg Abbott in May which prohibits abortions after six weeks, 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, addressing her teachers, classmates and their families. “I hope that you can feel how gut-wrenching that is, I hope that you can feel how dehumanizing it is, to have the autonomy over your own body taken from you.”

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