CCG – A Morehouse graduate who demanded a “permanent” cease-fire in Gaza seemed to receive applause from Biden.
Many students expressed their disapproval of the president’s invitation to speak at Morehouse.
Regarding the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, a large number of young people are not happy.
During the commencement ceremony of Morehouse College, the valedictorian called for an “immediate and permanent cease-fire” in Gaza, and it looked like President Joe Biden clapped.
Several Morehouse College alumni who were dissatisfied with the way his administration handled the Israel-Hamas conflict spoke out against Biden speaking at the commencement ceremony. Morehouse is a prominent historically Black men’s college in Atlanta.
During his passionate speech at commencement, Morehouse valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher didn’t back down from his position on the conflict.
“From the comforts of our homes, we watched unprecedented numbers of civilians mourn the loss of men, women, and children while calling for the release of all hostages,” he stated. We have never heard the world community sing a single, harmonized tune that cuts over the boundaries of language and culture. I stand by my position as a Morehouse man, as a human person, and I demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
Many of the grads cheered as Fletcher made his remarks, and Biden seemed to agree.
“Listen to the citizens of this globe. Fletcher closed his remarks by singing “Sing the song of righteous justice.”
A clear generational split was seen at the graduation ceremony. While older graduates and prominent university authorities mainly supported Biden’s visit to Morehouse, many younger alumni doubted the invitation.
SEE MORE – Israeli Military Finds Bodies Of Three Gaza Hostages, Including Festivalgoer Shani Louk
President of Morehouse College David Thomas said in a recent NPR interview that he was ready to call off the ceremony if disturbances got out of control enough to call for police involvement.
“The last thing that we want to do is create a moment where someone is taken out of commencement by law enforcement because they are being disruptive,” he told the newspaper last week. “Faced with the choice of having police take people out of the Morehouse commencement in zip ties, we would essentially cancel or discontinue the commencement services on the spot.”
“Silent non-disruptive protests” would be allowed during Biden’s speech, according to Thomas during the interview.
According to The Atlanta Voice, some graduates turned their backs on the president while he was speaking. Several sophomore graduates accessorized their graduation regalia with keffiyeh scarves, a symbol of the Palestinian people, wrapped over their shoulders.
About Gaza, Biden claimed to have “heard” the graduates’ voices throughout his speech.
“I swear to you that I hear them. In Gaza, there is a humanitarian disaster,” he declared. “To put an end to the fighting, that is why I have demanded an immediate cease-fire. Return the hostages to their homes.
Many young people are against Biden’s administration’s initial support of the Israeli government in the conflict, which has hurt his standing among them despite the extensive destruction and deaths in Gaza.
Although Biden won Georgia, a crucial swing state in 2020, the problem might have a significant negative effect on support for his candidacy, particularly among young and Black voters, who are crucial to winning the state this time around.
