President Joe Biden addressed the graduating class of 2024 at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday, using the commencement speech to reaffirm his commitment to Black voters while warning of “extremist forces” threatening American democracy. However, his remarks were met with muted protests from a faction of students.
As over 400 students walked across the stage, a handful turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech, with some wearing keffiyehs in an apparent demonstration. After the ceremony, Morehouse issued a statement praising the “organized, peaceful activism” as continuing “a critical conversation.”
“We are proud of the resilient class of 2024’s unity in silent protest, showing their intentionality in strategy, communication, and coordination as a 414-person unit,” the statement read.
Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher closed his address by calling for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip” amid global conflicts.
Biden’s speech at the prestigious historically Black college came amid intense scrutiny, with recent polls signaling a potential drop in support among young voters, Black voters, and other non-white groups that were crucial to his 2020 victory.
The president acknowledged the “angst over the direction of the country” and “dissent about America’s role in the world,” stating that those with differing views should have their voices heard in a democracy.
“To me, we make history, not erase it. We know Black history is American history,” Biden declared, while also issuing a warning about forces he believes aim to undermine democracy itself. “They don’t see you in the future of America, but they’re wrong.”
With campus protests disrupting graduations nationwide over the conflict in Gaza, Biden’s Morehouse address served as a continuation of his efforts to rally supporters against threats he sees from his predecessor, Donald Trump.
“Democracy, democracy, democracy – it’s still the way,” Biden stated, framing the 2024 election as a pivotal moment for American pluralism and democratic values.