A coalition of faculty and staff members across Georgia universities, known as Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine – Georgia (FSJP), has released a statement adamantly opposing Morehouse College’s decision to have President Biden address its graduating class. The White House confirmed earlier Tuesday that Biden would speak at Morehouse’s commencement ceremony on May 19 in Atlanta. FSJP believes that inviting Biden to speak “will do serious reputational damage to Morehouse and other schools in the Atlanta University Center consortium.” Their concerns arise from ongoing pro-Palestinian protests across the country, which have demanded that institutions cease all activities with businesses in Israel amid its war against in Gaza. The group’s statement highlights the potential damage to Morehouse’s reputation, loss of donor support, and discouragement of new applications from a youth generation that overwhelmingly supports a ceasefire. Additionally, they anticipate significant protests among current students and faculty, leading to potential discipline and confrontations with the police. Recent pro-Palestinian protests at universities such as Columbia, New York University, and Yale have resulted in dozens of arrests, including many students. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, preliminary polling suggests a neck-and-neck race between Biden and former President Donald Trump, with both candidates focusing their efforts on swing states like Georgia. Biden narrowly won Georgia in the 2020 election, and recent criticism from some segments of the Democratic electorate, particularly younger voters, over his handling of the war in Gaza could potentially impact his support in the state. Notably, Biden has recently taken a harder line with Israel on the issue.
Morehouse Commencement Speech: Faculty Coalition Condemns Biden’s Invitation
