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Sharifi’s speech heartening
I was so heartened to open the morning newspaper Feb. 12 and find the article and photo of 17-year-old Ava Sharifi: “High school speech imploring acceptance strikes a nerve.”
Her story made me think and cheer. Here was a Spokane citizen taking a stand and making a difference. The article propelled me to listen to Ava’s impassioned speech on YouTube (“We Are All Human”) about her own experiences with Islamaphobia. Her insightful talk encourages us all to be aware of the prejudices playing out in our world, and right here in our community.
I experienced Ava’s perceptive leadership firsthand when she was in middle school and participated as a reader in the performance of “This Scarf Has Wings,” with the Spokane Youth Symphony. I commend Ava for her courage, and her parents and the Lewis and Clark High School community for supporting her. Thousands have listened to Ava’s speech online. Check it out. Ava makes me proud to live in Spokane.
Claire Rudolf Murphy
Spokane