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Headline Roundup May 20th, 2024

President Biden Speaks at Morehouse College

Summary from the AllSides News Team

On Sunday, President Joe Biden gave the commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and focused on Israel, Gaza, and the future of democracy.

Key Details: Despite calls for protests at the HBCU, there were just a few interruptions and some students turned their backs during the speech.

Key Quote: “I support peaceful nonviolent protest,” Biden, told the graduates.“Your voices should be heard. I promise you I hear them.”

For Context: Biden's commencement address took place as college campuses nationwide have seen pro-Palestinian protests over the Israel-Hamas war. It was also one of several events this week where Biden appeared before black communities as some polls suggest he is losing support among black voters.

How the Media Covered it: Sources on all sides mentioned protests at the speech, but right-rated sources tended to highlight them more prominently.

Featured Coverage of this Story

From the Left
At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is 'still the way'
At Morehouse, Biden says dissent should be heard because democracy is 'still the way'

Alex Brandon/AP

News

President Joe Biden told Morehouse College's graduating class of 2024 that he's committed to serving Black voters while defending freedom and democracy in the face of "extremist forces" that he says threaten the soul of the nation.

With just six months until the general election, the speech, which was filled with religious themes of struggle and resilience, also served as a continuation of Biden's warning to his supporters of what he thinks the country would look like if Donald Trump is elected again.

"They don't see you in the future...

Open on NPR (Online News)
From the Right
Several Morehouse College students turn their backs on Biden during commencement address
Several Morehouse College students turn their backs on Biden during commencement address

Getty Images

News

Multiple students at Morehouse College turned their backs on President Biden during his commencement address in Atlanta Sunday — as support for the 81-year-old commander-in-chief among black voters plunges.

Biden’s speech at the historic black, all-male college marked the first time he has set foot on campus since mass anti-Israel protests erupted at schools across the country.

“I support peaceful nonviolent protest,” he told the graduates, as several turned around to face away from the president.

“Your voices should be heard. I promise you I hear them,” he insisted to the students, many of...

Open on New York Post (News)
From the Center
Biden’s Morehouse speech exposes his 2024 political problems
Analysis

President Biden will set foot on a college campus Sunday for the first time since universities around the country became hotbeds for protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden is delivering a commencement speech at Morehouse College, an historically Black college in Atlanta, a move that roiled students and faculty of the school, whose president said he would end the ceremony before letting police intervene to stop any potentially disruptive behavior.

The speech will see several issues plaguing Biden converge: the uproar over his unpopular foreign policy on Israel among Democrats coupled...

Open on The Hill

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