A white school principal in Philadelphia who withheld the diplomas of two black students after they expressed their joy at graduating has been replaced.
Hafsah Abdur-Rahman and Saleemah Burch were graduating from Philadelphia High School for Girls when Lisa Mesi denied them their diplomas.
A now-viral video shows the moment Abdur-Rahman danced on stage as she went to get her degree, but was denied the award by Mesi.
Burch twisted her hair and gestured, and someone clapped, prompting the same response from Mesi.
In a letter obtained by the questioner Tomás Hanna, co-superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, was sent to the school community, driving a “temporary change in leadership.”
Janis Butler was named “Deputy Principal of Girls’ High,” Hanna wrote.
White Philadelphia school principal Lisa Mesi has been replaced after she went viral and withheld diplomas from two black students
Hafsah Abdur-Rahman (pictured) and Saleemah Burch graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls when Lisa Mesi denied them their diplomas
My blood is boiling. They stole this girl’s big moment, both for her and her family. If this had happened to one of my kids, I would have run onto the stage. pic.twitter.com/x60EaIgEmI
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 16, 2023
‘Dr. Butler is excited to support the school community to pave the way for a successful 2023-2024 school year.”
Mesi has served as principal of the school since 2019 and continues to be listed as such in the staff directory on the school’s website.
In a letter from the principal posted on the school’s website, she wrote of the school’s 170-year history and how “humbled” she is to lead the “only public all-female institution in town.”
In a letter to the school community of Philadelphia School District Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna, he said Mesi would be “temporarily replaced”
“PHSG’s unique programming is designed to give diverse young ladies the personal insight and academic mastery to develop into the true Renaissance women of tomorrow,” she said.
“Our mission is to graduate students who treat others with compassion and lead lives of personal integrity at the college level, preparing them to be future leaders.”
She added, “Our girls come to us and display the spark of the elusive spirit that develops as they experience not only our rich and rigorous academics, but also leadership and service capabilities.”
“Our motto, ‘Vincit qui se vincit’ (She conquers, she conquers herself) is the ultimate embodiment of the Intangible Spirit of our graduates.”
Despite her apparent passion for the school and the “intangible spirit” of her students, Mesi was eviscerated online after the incident went viral.
Some alumni told the outlet that Mesi had received death threats after news of the graduation spread and it remains unclear if she will return to the institution.
“While this is the only information I can share at this time, I am committed to providing updates as additional information becomes available,” Hanna added.
Monique Braxton, the district spokesperson, told the outlet she could not answer questions about an investigation, whether Mesi left voluntarily or was asked to leave.
On June 9, Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to attend her high school graduation ceremony
When her name was called out, she did a viral dance move called the “Griddy” on her way to getting her high school diploma
She was not allowed to pick it up and Mesi was seen throwing it back into a basket where she picked it up
On June 9, Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to attend her high school’s graduation ceremony and when sheWhen her name was called, she did a viral dance move called “Griddy” on her way to getting her high school diploma.
She was not allowed to pick it up and Mesi was seen throwing it back into a basket where she picked it up.
Mesi had warned graduates that if their families clapped, cheered or called their names, degrees would be withheld.
The shocking moment was captured on video and shared on Twitter, where it has been viewed nearly five million times.
It shows Abdur-Rahman, dressed all in white, carrying yellow flowers and dancing as she approaches Mesi who is holding her diploma.
The headmaster then appears to hold out the diploma before gesturing for her to sit down after her dance and throws the diploma back into a basket.
“She stole that moment from me,” Abdur-Rahman said WPVI at the time. “I’ll never get that again.”
She said the moment was in honor of her sister who was killed by a stray bullet in 2014 at age 15 and was never able to graduate.
Abdur-Rahman said the moment was in honor of her sister who was killed in 2014 at the age of 15 by a stray bullet and was never able to graduate – she said she will never get that moment back
Mesi had warned graduates that if their families clapped, cheered or called out their names, degrees would be withheld
The student cried after the rejection and said she was “so embarrassed.”
“I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of graduation,” she added.
“I understood the rules because I said ‘shh’ in the video. Don’t say anything because I want my diploma. I knew and understood what we had to do.’
Burch, 18, said her diploma was also denied on stage because she made a gesture to which the guests responded.
“When they called Saleemah’s name, my youngest son, we had our hands together and just put our hands in the air,” said her mother Delsa Burch.
“Nobody made a sound.”
Abdur-Rahman’s clip was met with an avalanche of backlash.
One user wrote: ‘My blood is boiling. They stole this girl’s big moment, both for her and her family. If this had happened to one of my children, I would have run on stage.”
Mesi served as director of the school since 2019 and is still listed as such in the staff list on the school’s website
Another added, “I don’t know if that was my kid or not, I would have got up and started berating that woman.” Horrible!!’
A third said: ‘She didn’t do anything wrong. It is graduation and a great achievement. We don’t celebrate! I would have done more things to make the crowd smile and laugh if they refused me my diploma and a photo. Bad judgment about the administration.’
The Philadelphia school district issued a statement saying, “The district does not condone the withholding of graduations based on family members cheering for their graduates.
“We apologize to all the families and graduates affected by this and we are continuing to investigate this matter to prevent this from happening in the future.”