Speech delivered at City Hall by a Major-Major Black

Jaisaan Lovett stood on the catwalk in his cap and dress, a golden belt draped over his shoulders, and delivered his speech as the first black vice-major in the history of his charter school. The venue was Rochester City Hall, and more than 9,000 viewers watched a video posted on the city's YouTube account last Monday.

Lovett held his speech last month at the Graduation Ceremony School for Young Men in Rochester, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. But the school would have forbidden him to talk to the graduation.

Lovett told the newspaper that school principal Joseph Munno had denied him the opportunity to speak because of his personal hostility after several years of clashes .

He told the Democrat and chronicle that he was not asked to make a speech, and when he asked to speak, he was refused.

"(Munno) did not want to see the speech or what he said … He just said no," said Lovett, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.

Although Lovett was snubbed, a powerful ally gave him a platform. The mayor of Rochester Lovely Warren let Lovett deliver his speech at City Hall. Warren herself made history: in 2014, she became the first woman mayor of Rochester in modern times, according to the city's website.

Lovett addressed Munno in his speech after thanking his family and teachers. "There are many things I wanted to tell you for a long time," he said. "I am here as a major of the UPrep 2018 to tell you that you can not break me, and I am still strong here."

In his introduction to Lovett's speech, Warren acknowledged that the school did not allow him to speak.

"Jaisaan will never graduate from high school again.He will never come back on this moment.This is not the time to punish a child because you do not like what it is "

The video was posted on the Mayor's official Facebook page, and Lovett's reaction to it was commended, and several commentators have asked why Lovett does not could not speak to the graduation. "It was great that you gave him this platform but (why) was he deprived of his right?" A user asked. [19659006] In a post on his Facebook page Wednesday, the school said his board of directors. What happened. "He added that he tried to connect with the mayor's office, but the school's call was not returned.

In the comments section of the Facebook post, Warren said that she was calling Munno but he did not call her. back. "He and Jaisaan did not have good relationships and it was his last chance to show him who the boss was," she said.

Munno did not respond to Democrat & Chronicle's request for comment

for Clark Atlanta University in the fall, according to UPrep. " Appointment in August Jaisann ," the university tweeted on Wednesday.