Upon the news of Biden’s appointment as speaker, students and faculty began voicing their concerns due to his support of Israel.
President Joe Biden will take part in this year’s graduation festivities at Morehouse College. Biden will deliver the commencement address at the Atlanta HBCU’s ceremony on May 19.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the news on April 22, with the White House shortly confirming the announcement. However, not all in the campus’ community were elated to hear the news as rumors emerged the week before. Addressing the matter, the college’s provost Kendrick Brown wrote to faculty about their concerns regarding Biden’s appointment as speaker.
A letter, obtained by ABC News, circulated across the Morehouse community as well. It urged officials to revoke the invitation, stating that their famed alum, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., would not support the choice.
“In inviting President Biden to campus, the college affirms a cruel standard that complicity in genocide merits no sanction from the institution that produced one of the towering advocates for nonviolence of the twentieth century,” the letter states. “If the college cannot affirm this noble tradition of justice by rescinding its invitation to President Biden, then the college should reconsider its attachment to Dr. King.”
The Morehouse official intends to host a virtual forum that would allow faculty “with different prospectives” to explain their thoughts. As for students, they expect to voice their concerns with President David Thomas.
The news comes as a growing number of campuses deal with protests against the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Columbia University students spearheaded the recent wave, leading to the school’s administration calling the NYPD on protestors. Other students across the nation began to hold their own demonstrations in solidarity.
Protestors are condemning Biden’s continued support for Israel as the war in Gaza wages on. Many are also calling for their school to specifically divest from Israeli-owned companies.
This year’s graduations also take place during an election year, especially important to Biden for his reelection. NBC News reports that his placement at the all-men’s HBCU seeks to not only connect with young voters, but revitalize a Black electorate that has grown jaded with his administration.
Source: Black Enterprise
