5 highlights from Joe Biden’s Morehouse commencement address: From protests to enticing Black voters

From luring Black voters to Gaza ceasefire call: 5 key moments from Biden’s Morehouse commencement address

President Joe Biden delivered the commencement speech at the historically Black all-male Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, May 19. The 81-year-old set foot on campus for the first time since the anti-Israel protests erupted across colleges last month. Also, Biden's decreasing popularity among Black voters amid a crucial reelection bid made the event significant in seeing how the POTUS handled the recent criticisms against his administration. Here are the top five highlights from Biden's commencement speech to the Morehouse graduates.

1. Biden claims Republicans do not see Black people in America's future

Biden warned the predominantly Black graduates that former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies did not want Black people in America's future. "They don't see you in the future of America, but they are wrong," he claimed. "We know Black history is the American history. We know Black men are going to lead us into the future." In addition, the President also claimed Black people did not have a fair shot in many situations, and they had to be ten times better than the others.

2. Some students and faculties protest, turn their backs to Biden

As anticipated, there were mild protests from students and faculties who were dissatisfied with the administration's invitation to Biden to deliver the commencement speech. Some students had their backs facing away from the 81-year-old while he delivered the speech. Students who opposed Biden's stance on Israel's ongoing war on Gaza quietly turned to the opposite side when he said, "I support peaceful, non-violent protest."

3. Morehouse valedictorian's call for 'immediate ceasefire' in Gaza receives Biden's applause

The 2024 valedictorian of Morehouse College, DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, made a newsworthy moment after his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. With Biden seated behind him, the valedictorian declared, "It is my stance as a Morehouse man, nay as a human being, to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip." Fletcher was met with a standing ovation, with the President himself clapping his hands. The POTUS also aligned with the call later in his speech, demanding an immediate ceasefire and proposing a two-state solution as the only way to end the Israel-Palestine conflict

4. Biden receives honorary doctorate

The Morehouse College conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Biden after he ended his commencement speech where he declared what was happening in Gaza and Israel was "heartbreaking." However, the honor was not welcomed by many students and faculties. The vote to award the doctorate was passed 50-38, with around 12 faculty members abstaining. “You spoke to the hard issues confronting our nation and the world at this moment,” Morehouse President David Thomas said of Biden before awarding the degree.

5. Biden repeats misleading claim about Georgia election

During his speech, Biden criticized a specific Georgia election law. He repeated a false claim about voters being banned from getting food and water while standing in line to vote at the polling stations. "Today in Georgia, they won't allow water to be available to you while you wait in line to vote in an election. What in the hell is that all about?" Biden fumed. He was citing a law in Georgia that prevented poll workers and others from distributing food or water to voters within 150 feet of a polling place, allowing only self-service water from an unattended container within that distance.