White principal who refused to hand two black students their diplomas replaced

A white Philadelphia school principal who withheld the diplomas of two black students after they danced across the stage has been replaced.

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman and Saleemah Burch were graduating from the 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 retrieve her diploma but was denied the accolade by Mesi.

Burch flipped her hair and made a gesture, and someone clapped, which elicited the same response from Mesi.

In a letter obtained by the inquirer sent to the school community, Philadelphia School District Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna floated a ‘temporary change in leadership.’ Janis Butler was named ‘substitute principal at Girls’ High’, it said. 

White Philadelphia school principal Lisa Mesi has been replaced after she went viral withholding diplomas from two black students

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman (pictured) and Saleemah Burch were graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls when Lisa Mesi denied them their diplomas

‘Dr. Butler is excited to support the school community to help set the stage for a successful 2023-2024 school year.’

Mesi had been principal at the school since 2019 and remains listed as such on the staff directory on the school’s website. 

In a letter from the principal on the school website she wrote of the school’s 170 years of history and how ‘humbled’ she is to lead the ‘only public all-female institution in the city.’

In a letter sent to the school community from Philadelphia School District Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna he said Mesi would be ‘temporarily replaced’

‘PHSG unique programming is designed to give diverse young ladies the personal acumen and academic mastery to develop into the true Renaissance Women of tomorrow,’ she said. 

‘Our mission is to graduate students who will treat others compassionately and lead lives of personal integrity at the university level, preparing them to be future leaders.’

She added: ‘Our girls come to us demonstrating the spark of the Intangible Spirit which evolves as they experience not only our rich and rigorous academics, but also leadership and service opportunities.’

‘Our motto, ‘Vincit qui se vincit’ (she conquers, who conquers herself) is the ultimate embodiment of the Intangible Spirit of our graduates.’

Despite her apparent passion for the school and its students ‘intangible spirit’ 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 circulated and it remains unclear whether she’ll 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’s spokesperson, told the outlet that she couldn’t answer questions about an investigation, whether Mesi left by choice or was asked to leave.

On June 9 Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to take part in her high school graduation ceremony

When her name was called out she did a viral dance move called the ‘Griddy’ on her way to collecting her high school diploma

She was not allowed to collect it and Mesi was seen throwing it back into a basket from where she picked it up 

On June 9 Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to take part in her high school graduation ceremony and when her name was called out she did a viral dance move called the ‘Griddy’ on her way to collecting her high school diploma.

She was not allowed to collect it and Mesi was seen throwing it back into a basket from where she picked it up. 

Mesi had warned graduates that if their families clapped, cheered, or called out their names, diplomas would be withheld.

The shocking moment was caught on video and shared on Twitter where was viewed almost five million times.

It shows Abdur-Rahman, dressed in all white, carrying yellow flowers and dancing as she approaches Mesi who is holding her diploma. 

The school head then appears to hold out the diploma before gesturing towards her to sit down after her dance and throws the diploma back into a basket.

‘She stole that moment from me,’ Abdur-Rahman told WPVI at the time. ‘I will never get that again.’ 

She said the moment was in honor of her sister who was killed by a stray bullet aged 15 in 2014 and was never able to graduate.

Abdur-Rahman said the moment was in honor of her sister who was killed by a stray bullet aged 15 in 2014 and was never able to graduate – she said she’ll never get that moment back

Mesi had warned graduates that if their families clapped, cheered, or called out their names, diplomas would be withheld

The student cried following the rejection and said she was ‘so embarrassed.’ 

‘I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,’ she added.

‘I understood the rules because I was saying ‘shh’ in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma. I knew and understood what we were supposed to do.’ 

Burch, 18, said she was also denied her diploma on stage for making a gesture which the guests reacted to. 

‘When they called Saleemah’s name, my younger son, we had our hands together, and we just put our hands in the air,’ her mother Delsa Burch said. 

‘No one made a noise.’ 

The clip of Abdur-Rahman 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 rushed the stage.’

Mesi had been principal at the school since 2019 and remains listed as such on the staff directory on the school’s website

Another added: ‘Idc if that was my kid or not I would have stood up and started booing that woman. Awful!!’

A third said: ‘She did nothing wrong. It’s graduation and a major accomplishment. We not celebrate! I would have done more stuff to make the crowd smile and laugh if they denied me of my diploma and a picture. Poor judgment on the administration.’ 

The School District of Philadelphia issued a statement and 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.’