President Joe Biden's upcoming commencement speech at Morehouse College is stirring up controversy, as some faculty and alumni express discontent over his policies, particularly in relation to Israel and Palestine. The liberal arts institution, which boasts civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. as an alumni, is set to host Biden on May 19, but not all are welcoming the visit with open arms.
An online letter condemning Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict has emerged, calling for the college to revoke its invitation. The document suggests that by inviting Biden, Morehouse "affirms a cruel standard that complicity in genocide merits no sanction from the institution." The letter references King's pacifist legacy, claiming the college should "reconsider its attachment to Dr. King" if it cannot uphold his tradition of justice. This sentiment was reported by WABE.
Despite the backlash, Morehouse Provost Kendrick Brown has informed faculty that the college does not plan to rescind its invitation to the president. The White House and Biden's reelection campaign have yet to comment on the controversy. In a statement obtained by WABE, Morehouse President David Thomas expressed enthusiasm for Biden's visit, referring to it as "a reminder of our institution’s enduring legacy and impact."
Rev. Stephen Green, one of the letter's authors and a Morehouse alumnus, stated in an interview that his group has reached out to several Morehouse trustees and aims to have a dialogue with President Thomas. They are calling for Biden to advocate more assertively for a Palestinian state and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, in line with the values they claim to have been taught at Morehouse.
Polling suggests Biden may need to strengthen his relationship with Black Americans. While more than half still approve of his overall job performance, this number is a decline from earlier figures when 94% approved upon his taking office. Biden's stance on Israeli-Palestinian issues has attracted critics from both sides, further complicating his position as he gears up for election season, as detailed by an AP-NORC poll conducted in March.
Amidst the domestic turbulence, Sen. Raphael Warnock, another prominent Morehouse alumnus, has sidestepped campus disagreements, sharing his anticipation for "a timely, poignant, forward-looking message" from Biden, as per WABE. Warnock highlighted his collaborative efforts with the president on tackling pressing issues like the costs of higher education—a key policy point for the White House, which has championed increases in federal money support for HBCUs and loan forgiveness initiatives.
Georgia, vital in Biden's previous narrow victory, remains a critical battleground. The president's ability to maintain support within the Black community, especially in influential centers like Morehouse College, could be pivotal for the upcoming electoral challenges that await him.
