Valedictorian banned from giving graduation speech; students protest

Students have organized a protest march asking authorities of Lodi High School in Lodi, New Jersey to allow valedictorian  Devan Solanki to speak at the graduation, nj.com reported.

The Harvard-bound Solanki says officials plotted against him to deny the opportunity. He was also suspended and asked to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before he could return to school.

About 90 students held a rally in front of Lodi High School Tuesday morning, demanding that school administrators reverse their decision and allow Solanki to speak on June 24when the 2015 graduating class meets on the football field, according to nj.com

"The student body agreed unanimously... that Devan deserved to give the speech," said Goraz Kumar, the National Honor Society president, a junior. "When we found out that he wouldn't get a chance to give the speech, that he had to get mentally evaluated to come back to school, we all thought that was enough and we need to voice our opinion."

Students said Solanki was punished for speaking out against teachers.

His mother, Nayna, said Devan passed the psychiatric evaluation but she was not sure when he could go to school.

The controversy began on June 4 when Solanki was told by Principal Frank D'Amico that he would not be allowed to give the speech because of prior disciplinary issues.

A frustrated Solanki told his guidance counselor, "I just want to resolve this peacefully," he claimed.

She interpreted it as a threat and Solanki was suspended, required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The Monday incident is "just an excuse for them to get me in trouble," Solanki told NJ Advance Media in an interview.

Nayna Solanki said she doesn't feel the school has treated Devan fairly.

"They don't want to let him speak," she said. "I don't know why."