Video: Parents, students involved in several fights at high school graduation in New Jersey, one person hospitalized



Several fights broke out at a high school graduation in New Jersey on Thursday evening. The brawls sent one person to the hospital.

There were multiple fights near the end of the graduation ceremony at Westwood Regional High School in Bergen County.

Video uploaded to the X social media platform shows several fights on the football field before school officials and police officers were able to quash the physical altercations. There were police officers from at least 12 different nearby towns to stop the mass fighting.

According to NJ.com, students and parents were involved in the brawl.

One person needed to be hospitalized from the melee, and several others suffered minor injuries but declined to be treated, the Washington Township Police Department said.

"This was supposed to be an enjoyable night that the Westwood High School Senior class worked hard for and have been waiting for, which has been tainted due to the egregious behavior by some," Washington Township police said in a statement.

Police did not specify what caused the fights.

Westwood Regional High School Principal Frank Connell wrote on social media after the incident, "Congratulations to the Class of 2024! I am so proud of each and every one of you. It is an honor to serve as your principal and to be part of this amazing community. I refuse to allow anything to take away from that."

Jay Garcia – president of the Westwood Regional School District Board of Education – told WCBS-TV:

"We have much to celebrate in our towns of Westwood and Washington Township. Last night, we honored nearly two hundred students. These young adults, now graduates, have accomplished so much, and they deserve the focus and our attention. The faculty, coaches, administrators, parents, family, and friends who guided them along their journey also merit accolades and praise! The safety and well-being of all students and residents are top priorities, and the unfortunate incident following the culmination was deeply upsetting; I will not comment beyond that, as this is now in the hands of our local law enforcement. Our communities are beautiful, and I know the parents and residents to be loving, caring, kind, and positively engaged. Again, I want to congratulate this gifted Cardinal Class of 2024! I am excited to see what their futures hold!"

Westwood Regional High School enrolls approximately 840 students.

A police investigation into the brawl at the Westwood Regional High School graduation has been launched. Police said that there could be pending charges against those responsible for the violence.

Anyone with videos or information about the brawl is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Severio Fasciano at the Washington Township Police Department.

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In Orwellian commencement address, Fauci calls for pushback against 'untruth' while ignoring his own lies



Dr. Anthony Fauci came out of hiding to give the commencement speech for this year's Columbia University graduates, and it was so dystopian, it sounded as if it were ripped straight from the pages of Orwell’s "1984."

“Differences of opinion or ideology have in certain circumstances been reflected by egregious distortions of reality,” Fauci told the students.

“Sadly, elements of our society are driven by a cacophony of falsehoods, lies, and conspiracy theories that get repeated often enough that after a while, they stand largely unchallenged, ominously leading to an insidious acceptance of what I call ‘the normalization of untruth,’” he continued.

“Wouldn’t that sort of be like if you get the vaccine you will not get nor transmit COVID? Would it be a lie to say that six-foot social distancing was a complete lie? It was. There was no evidence that masks worked — like everything this man has pushed,” Dave Rubin, host of "The Rubin Report," says.

Fauci went on to blame news organizations and social media and claimed that it’s relevant to those in science and medical professions because “our very identity is anchored in data, evidence, and critical thinking.”

“And we as much or more than anyone else need to push back on these distortions of truth and reality,” Fauci concluded, echoing the Orwellian idea that only the official line of “truth” should be allowed in the public sphere.

“Everything he just accused all of us of is the stuff that he and his cadre of lunatics have been doing,” Rubin concluded.


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Student barred from graduation ceremony after stating there are only two genders says boss rescinded firefighting job offer

Student barred from graduation ceremony after stating there are only two genders says boss rescinded firefighting job offer



A student barred from his high school graduation ceremony after stating there are only two genders said in a Sunday interview on "Fox & Friends" that a firefighting job offer has now been rescinded.

"Girls are girls, and guys are guys. There is no in-between," 18-year-old Travis Lohr recalled saying, as KHQ reported.

Lohr made the off-script comment at a high school assembly where seniors at Idaho's Kellogg High School offer a piece of advice to younger students.

More than 100 parents, students, and community members gathered Friday to protest the school's decision to ban him from participating in the graduation ceremony over the remark, according to the Idaho Tribune.

I didn’t direct it at any groups or anything like that; it was just something I chose to say in the moment," Lohr also told the outlet, adding that his remark was met with an "uproar of cheers."

Lohr says he departed from his preapproved remarks at the Thursday assembly, instead speaking from the heart, according to the Idaho Freedom Foundation.

Bus driver Dakota Mailloux, who joined the protest on his own time, told the outlet he was fired for his participation.

Lohr was not asked to apologize for the remark nor would he have provided one if asked, he told Fox News Channel host Rachel Campos-Duffy Sunday morning on "Fox & Friends."

"What I said I believe in, and I stand by it."

"I wasn't able to walk at graduation. My offer to work for the forest service was rescinded," Lohr also said.

Lohr told Campos-Duffy he was slated to start work Sunday, but when he went in to complete the final paperwork, his boss informed him he was rescinding the offer. He described the job as "fighting wildland forest fires."

"That's part of life, as I am learning, and I am going to continue to grow from here. I'm not going to dwell on it."

"I don't believe I would have been punished at all, personally, if I had said 'black lives matter,'" Lohr told Campos-Duffy.

"For this to happen over what I said, it's just controversial ... If people speak up like I did ... it seems frowned upon. You can be punished for it, obviously, like I'm being punished," Lohr said.

"It's reassuring to know that I'm not alone and realize what I did wasn't wrong," Lohr said of the outpouring of support from his peers and people in the community.

"Unacceptable!" Idaho state representative Heather Scott (R) tweeted Friday, describing Lohr's original statement at the assembly as a "scientific fact."

\u201cUNACCEPTABLE! The Shoshone County Kellogg High school graduation is canceled for all students! So how I am understanding this is:\n\n1. A student speaks scientific truth at a school assembly (\u201cGuys are guys and girls are girls. There is no in-between.\u201d)\n2. Science denier \u201cadult\u201d\u2026\u201d
— Rep. Heather Scott (@Rep. Heather Scott) 1685749243

Despite an earlier announcement from the district saying graduation would be delayed over "safety concerns," Kellogg High School held its ceremony Saturday morning.

Kellogg School District Superintendent Lance Pearson asked parents and students to keep the time of the ceremony "under wraps," KHQ reported.

Watch video from the Idaho Tribune below of Kellogg High School students and community members protesting a decision to ban Travis Lohr from walking in the school's graduation ceremony.


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Video: Service dog receives diploma alongside Seton Hall University graduate; audience erupts in cheers

Video: Service dog receives diploma alongside Seton Hall University graduate; audience erupts in cheers



A fetching, furry, very good boy walked across the stage Monday to receive a diploma alongside his companion, NPR and other outlets reported.

Six-year-old Justin, a service dog for new graduate Grace Mariani, received his "dogree" at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

As Mariani made her way across the stage in a motorized wheelchair, Justin walked alongside her, wagging his tail.

Justin was sporting a "Canine Companions" zippered harness and a Seton Hall University bandana emblazoned with his name and "class of 2023."

The heartwarming moment was caught on video and shared by Seton Hall on its social media channels. To date, the YouTube version has garnered more than 91,000 views.

The video shows Seton Hall University's president Dr. Joseph E. Nyre, clad in academic regalia, leaning down toward Justin to allow the clever Labrador-golden retriever mix to sniff out the ribbon-tied tube.

Justin looked back at Mariani before gently taking it in the document in his mouth, briefly turning toward the camera.

As he did, the whole audience erupted in cheers. Mariani was grinning ear to ear. Dr. Nyre raised his arms in a triumphant gesture and applauded the pair.

Justin was awarded the degree for attending all of Mariani's Seton Hall classes with her, the university wrote in its description of the video.

"When Grace was matched with Canine Companions service dog Justin, she said her dream was to go away to college and become a teacher," said Jeanine Konopelski of Canine Companions for Independence in an email to WPVI.

Justin learned more than 45 tasks to help Mariani, Konopelski also told the outlet.

Grace Mariani of Mahwah, New Jersey, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education, graduating magna cum laude. She plans to teach in elementary school alongside Justin.

Watch the heartwarming moment service dog Justin receives his "diploma" alongside Seton Hall University graduate Grace Mariani in the video below.



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Search called off for teen who went overboard while on graduation celebration cruise in the Bahamas

Search called off for teen who went overboard while on graduation celebration cruise in the Bahamas



The search for a Louisiana teen who went overboard while on a graduation celebration cruise has been called off, the United States Coast Guard announced Friday, citing Bahamian military officials.

"We were informed by [Royal Bahamas Defence Force] this evening that they were suspending the active search efforts pending further developments & were not requesting further @USCG assistance after notifying the Robbins family," said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer in an update posted to Twitter early Saturday morning.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to Cameron Robbins' family and friends," Lt. Cmdr. Spado added.

Cameron Robbins, 18, a recent graduate from University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was on an excursion in the Bahamas when he allegedly jumped overboard on a dare, WAFB reported.

Students from multiple area high schools were on the pirate-themed boat for a graduation trip, the outlet also reported. The students from U-High, including Robbins, had only been in the Bahamas for a few hours before they boarded the sunset cruise.

The U.S. Coast Guard District Seven deployed search and rescue assets to assist the Bahamian military in its efforts. The USCG's Miami-based command center and aircrews supported the RBDF from the initial report of the incident through Friday evening, according to a statement acquired by WAFB.

Justin Morgan, who was Robbins' baseball coach, described the new graduate as well-loved, a fierce competitor, and a hard worker, CNN reported.

"It's just a really emotional time for us right now. We're just trying to send up those prayers and give our support," Kevin George, director of the University Lab School told WBRZ in an interview prior to the search being called off.

"There are lots of kids that are on this vacation and it's just something parents throw together and put together," he also said, adding that he believed 10-15 of U-High's students were also on the trip.

George said Robbins had attended the school for 13 years. He described Robbins as an "athlete, great kid, great smile, great head of hair. Just one of the kids you're so proud of when they cross the stage."

Watch coverage from WBRZ below of the initial search for 18-year-old Cameron Robbins, who went overboard while on a celebratory sunset cruise in the Bahamas.



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High school punishes seniors not vaccinated against COVID-19 by banning them from attending graduation ceremony



A California high school punished senior students who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 by banning them from walking in their graduation ceremony.

What are the details?

Granada Hills Charter High School is holding its graduation ceremony on Thursday. Unfortunately for 70 students in the graduating class of about 1,100 seniors, they will not walk with their classmates because they are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Last fall, Granada Hills Charter announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students and staff, following the lead of the Los Angeles Unified School District. But while LAUSD has repeatedly delayed enforcing its mandate (now July 2023 at the earliest), Granada Hills Charter officials chose to enforce theirs.

Since the beginning of the spring semester, students not vaccinated against COVID-19 have been barred from attending class on campus, and seniors have been blocked from senior prom, senior awards day, and other school events.

Finally, they are being blocked from attending graduation in person — even though the ceremony is being held outside,according to the school's website. Guests will also be forced to prove vaccination.

"I feel like I've earned these events, like Grad Night, prom," senior student Andrew Luna told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I did all four years at this school. For them to take [these events] from me at my final moment, of course it's upsetting."

Students banned from attending the graduation ceremony will be able to "participate" remotely, the Daily News reported.

What is the school saying?

A protest was held outside Granada Hills Charter High School on Tuesday, where parents expressed anger over the "egregious discrimination" of the school's policy, KTLA-TV reported.

Students, parents protest proof of vaccination requirement at Granada Hills Charter School www.youtube.com

Unfortunately, school officials are defending their policy, claiming in a statement that it is "in the best interest of our students, all of whom attend voluntarily as GHC is a school of choice."

"Our community asked for and has overwhelmingly supported our student vaccine policy, as demonstrated by our 99% vaccination rate amongst those who are eligible to be vaccinated," the statement added. "Our Board stands by the science that indicates that vaccination is the most and effective tool available to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safest learning environment possible."

Shockingly, the school even prohibited special education students from walking in the graduation ceremony.

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