'People are waking up': Biden's Morehouse College speech offers a glimpse of his problems before election

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: On Sunday, May 19, President Joe Biden made his first appearance on a college campus since the eruption of protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict, delivering a commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Morehouse, a historically Black college, became the site of a contentious intersection between Biden’s policies and a key demographic whose support he critically needs for re-election.

Biden faces backlash over Israel policy

Biden’s visit to Morehouse was marked by a mix of ceremony and political tension. In the weeks leading up to the event, Morehouse President David Thomas had prepared to handle potential disruptions, telling CNN that the school wouldn't allow “disruptive behavior that prevents the ceremony or services from proceeding in a manner that those in attendance can partake and enjoy."

Despite these precautions, several graduates staged protests during Biden’s speech. Some students wore keffiyeh scarves and displayed Palestinian flags, turning their backs on the president, while others chose to walk out.

These actions were direct responses to Biden’s policies concerning the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Protesters cited the administration's stance and actions in Gaza as the primary reason for their dissent.

The backdrop of Biden’s speech is critical to understanding the broader implications. The president is currently grappling with multiple challenges: criticism of his foreign policy from within his own party, diminishing support among young and Black voters, and a contentious political environment in a battleground state he narrowly won in 2020.

These factors converged at Morehouse, a symbolic venue representing the very demographics Biden needs to secure for a potential 2024 re-election bid.

Fred Hicks, a Democratic strategist based in Georgia, stressed the significance of Biden’s appearance at Morehouse.

"The president giving the commencement speech at Morehouse, before the preeminent Black male college in the country, is a nod to the fact that Black men and young voters are really looking at not voting this election," Hicks told The Hill. "And he realizes, and the campaign realizes that he has to do something to try to bring them back, bring us back into the fold."

Ahead of Biden’s appearance, Steve Benjamin, head of the administration’s Office of Public Engagement, met with Morehouse students and faculty to address concerns. The dialogue aimed to ensure the commencement speech would be inclusive and centered on the graduates.

“People have different thoughts about what they might want to hear,” Benjamin said. “We listened very closely. We received those messages and we shared those with the president and his speech-writing team.” 

Despite efforts to mitigate disruptions, the presence of protesters highlighted a growing discontent among young and Black Americans.

A March survey from the Carnegie Endowment for Peace found that nearly 70% of Black Americans wanted the US to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Furthermore, while 42% of Black respondents felt no connection to either side, 45% felt a connection to Palestinians over Israelis.

The commencement ceremony at Morehouse underscored Biden's broader political challenges. Recent polling data reflects a significant decline in his support among Black voters. A New York Times poll indicated that Biden leads former President Donald Trump among Black voters by a margin of 63% to 23%, a stark drop from the 87% support he received in 2020.

Additionally, Biden’s support among voters aged 18-29 has also weakened, with the same poll showing only a narrow lead over Trump, a demographic Biden previously won by double digits.

Georgia remains a crucial battleground for the upcoming election. Polling averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill show Trump leading Biden by 6 points in the state. This underscores the urgency for Biden to reconnect with the voters who propelled him to victory in 2020.

Biden slammed after student protests at Morehouse

Biden was excoriated on social media following the speech, with many commending the Morehouse graduates for their protests.

"People are waking up," one posted on X.

"I’m glad they can see through his B/S!!" another wrote.

"They know Joe panders and just wants votes," someone else added.

"Way to go. There’s hope after all," a comment read.

"Bravo for graduating without being indoctrinated," another chimed in.

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