Joe Biden faces mixed reactions at Morehouse College speech
5:24 AM EDT, May 20, 2024
President of the USA, Joe Biden, delivered a speech at Morehouse College in Georgia on Sunday to mark the end of the academic year, calling the war in the Gaza Strip a "humanitarian crisis." He received applause and cheers, but some students silently turned their backs on him in protest.
"Biden's speech at Morehouse College, a historically Black men's college in Atlanta, is part of an election-year platform aimed at repairing ties with young Black men and addressing anger over his stance on Israel," noted the Reuters agency.
Biden's speech. students protested
The President continues U.S. military support for Israel despite the growing death toll in the Gaza Strip. However, he threatened to cut off aid if Israel continues its offensive in Rafah, where many civilians seek refuge. He reiterated his support for a two-state solution and humanitarian aid for Gaza.
"It's a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that's why I've called for an immediate ceasefire," (...) This is one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world. I know it angers and frustrates many of you," said Joe Biden, eliciting applause.
At Morehouse College, where Martin Luther King Jr. studied, no significant protests halted the graduation ceremonies at other colleges. However, some students moved their chairs to turn their backs on Biden.
According to Reuters, one graduate seemed to display a Palestinian flag briefly, and one person in the audience stood, turned their back, and raised a clenched fist. Some wore keffiyehs (black and white scarves), symbolizing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, while the school's valedictorian called for a permanent and immediate ceasefire.
"My message as someone from Morehouse, and as a human being, is a call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," said DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, the class valedictorian of 2024. The President joined in the applause.
Reuters noted that some voters approve of Biden's policies but are not convinced by the 81-year-old presidential candidate himself. His campaign team has noticed signs of reduced enthusiasm, particularly among younger Black men.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted this month found that Biden had tied with Republican Donald Trump in terms of support from voters under 40 years old. In 2020, the Democrat had a double-digit lead among them.
