*Lisa Mesi, the principal at Philadelphia High School for Girls who went viral last month after denying two Black students their diplomas when they danced across the stage at graduation, is no longer employed at the school.
Essence reports that in a letter sent out to the community, Janis Butler was named as the “substitute principal” as part of what the School District Associate Superintendent called a “temporary” change.
We reported previosuyly that a recent graduate spoke out after being denied her diploma for dancing across the stage and making the crowd laugh.
“She (the principal) stole that moment from me,” said Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, 17, in an interview with 6 ABC Philadelphia. “I will never get that again.”
According to Abdur-Rahma, Mesi warned students that their families could not react with clapping or cheering when they walked on stage on June 9.
This young woman, Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, was denied her high school diploma for dancing on stage. Philadelphia High School for Girls should be ashamed of themselves. They humiliated this young woman. For NOTHING. pic.twitter.com/x60EaIgEmI
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 16, 2023
“I understood the rules because I was saying ‘shh’ in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma,” said Abdur-Rahman. “I knew and understood what we were supposed to do.”
In the video, the crowd can be heard laughing as Abdur-Rahman danced across the stage — and for this, the principal withheld her diploma.
“If they thought that I shouldn’t do ‘The Griddy’ across the stage and do the Girls’ High traditions, nobody should have been able to wave or blow kisses or do period signs because I feel like that’s the same thing. I feel like that’s unfair,” said Abdur-Rahman.
“I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,” she added.
As Essence reports, Mesi warned, “graduates that if their families clapped, cheered, or called out their names, diplomas would be withheld.”
Three other girls did not get their diplomas on stage, but 6 ABC Philadelphia reports that they received them after the ceremony.
In a statement, the School District of Philadelphia said: “The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates. We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”
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