Biden to deliver commencement at Morehouse College amid campus division over his presence

 **Washington, CNN — President Joe Biden will deliver his first commencement address of the 2024 season on Sunday at Morehouse College, where he may face significant criticism over his administration’s policies on the Israel-Hamas war.

Morehouse, a historically Black, all-male college in Atlanta, which counts Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. among its alumni, could present Biden with direct exposure to young people's frustrations regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Biden’s planned appearance sparked outrage among some faculty members, prompting the school's provost to hold an open forum in late April to address these concerns. Despite the controversy, the school has maintained its invitation to Biden, which was extended in September, before the war began.

Anticipating protests, the White House dispatched Stephen Benjamin, director of its office of public engagement, to Morehouse last week to discuss these issues with students.

At a Thursday news briefing, Benjamin mentioned his conversation with the students, including discussions about the Middle East conflict. “I think what’s going to be most important are the words that the president articulates,” Benjamin said, emphasizing Biden’s deep feelings about addressing the young men at Morehouse. “I’m sure the president will have a chance to engage with faculty, staff, and students while he’s there,” he added.

Over the past few months, Biden has avoided addressing large crowds of young people on college campuses. This shift followed his January remarks on abortion rights at Virginia’s George Mason University, which were interrupted by protesters angry over his support for Israel.

Since then, the anger has only grown, with more than 1,360 student demonstrations taking place on campuses from October 7 to May 3, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Most of these demonstrations – 97% – have been peaceful, although some instances of property destruction and violence have gained attention.

In late April and early May, protests escalated, with students at Columbia University occupying buildings, police dispersing an encampment at the University of Texas in Austin, and counter-protesters attacking a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA.

These incidents led Biden to denounce some actions of campus protesters, stating, “I understand people have strong feelings of deep convictions. In America, we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that. But it doesn’t mean anything goes.” He added that while dissent is “essential to democracy,” it “must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others.”

Biden’s Morehouse commencement is part of a broader effort to acknowledge the nation’s historical racial issues and engage with the next generation of Black leaders. On Thursday, Biden met with plaintiffs from the historic Brown v. Board of Education case, some of whom urged him to make the case’s anniversary a national holiday.

On Friday, Biden spoke at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and met with members of the Divine Nine, a group of historic Black fraternities and sororities.

After his speech at Morehouse, Biden will travel to Detroit to address an NAACP dinner. This will be his second visit to Morehouse as president; he and Vice President Kamala Harris previously spoke there about voting rights in 2022.