Will Biden’s Morehouse speech address campus protests? History suggests so
Ernie Suggs | (TNS) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ATLANTA — On Sunday, President Joe Biden will step foot on a college campus for the first time since student protests over the war in Gaza at dozens of American universities, including some in Georgia, escalated to encampments, arrests and concerns about rising antisemitism. Biden’s remarks at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he is scheduled to give the commencement address, will be closely scrutinized as some have called for protests of his support of the Israeli government’s actions in the region. While the White House hasn’t shared many details about what Biden will say at Morehouse, it’s possible he’ll talk about the campus demonstrations. Biden said in a radio interview on Atlanta’s V-103 Wednesday morning that “I’ve been very clear, every American has the right to peacefully protest,” but added it’s unacceptable when it “crosses the line to hate speech.” Presidents have often used commencement addresses during challenging moments for the nation to outline their positions on issues. The tradition dates back at least to 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt addressed the Naval Academy — the most frequent commencement destination.