Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is about to give not one, but two commencement speeches in May, and these speeches are no ordinary rah-rah feel-good events. Nope, they’re taking on extra importance with the election and college campus protests getting all the attention these days.
First up, Biden’s hitting Morehouse College in Atlanta on May 19. Now, why is this a big deal, you ask? Well, Georgia is a key state in any election, and there’s some buzz about possible anti-Israel protests making an appearance at the ceremony. The school’s provost even had to send an email to the faculty to address their concerns. I mean, c’mon folks, can’t we just let the man speak without all the drama?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: What's going on at the colleges, Columbia, NYU, and others, is a disgrace. And it's really on Biden. He's got the wrong signal. He's got the wrong tone. pic.twitter.com/mMCnh0HeDT
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) April 23, 2024
And as if that’s not enough, there’s talk on social media about protests or walkouts during the event. But hold your horses, ’cause a Georgia state rep and Morehouse alum himself, Roger Bruce, thinks all this fuss is much ado about nothing. He’s not expecting any major disruptions, and he’s planning to show his support for Biden at the graduation. He’s got a point – the president is doing his job, so can’t we all just give him a break?
Now, campus protests have been making waves at other schools, like Columbia University, where more than 100 people have been hauled off to the slammer. The White House had to step in and make it clear that peaceful protests are A-OK, but violence and hateful rhetoric? Not so much.
But let’s get back to Biden’s big day at Morehouse. He’s got some high-profile company lined up, including Georgia’s very own Sen. Raphael Warnock, who’s also an alum of the college. Even the school’s student government is giving Biden a thumbs-up, saying this is a chance for their community to hear him out and keep an open mind.
However, Biden’s got some tough competition, and none other than former President Donald Trump is ready to call him out. Trump’s not holding back, pointing fingers at Biden’s handling of all these campus protests. He thinks Biden’s sending the wrong message, using the wrong words, and basically creating a big mess.
And let’s not forget about those polls showing Trump with a lead in Georgia. Yikes! This has got Biden’s team breaking a sweat, especially after Trump got a hero’s welcome in Atlanta. The Trump campaign is quick to rub it in, saying Biden’s folks are in panic mode ’cause they know African Americans are showing some serious love for Trump.
Now, one smart cookie from Emory University, Professor Andra Gillespie, thinks Biden’s speech might just help him win over black male voters who’ve been eyeing Trump. She’s betting on Biden making a smart play here to grab some positive media attention, especially in black communities.
And if that’s not enough, she’s got some advice for Biden and the Morehouse crew: Make some backup plans to handle any protests and keep the peace. After all, we don’t need any disruptions or hecklers ruining the big day.
So, folks, it looks like Biden’s got a lot riding on these speeches. Let’s see if he can pull it off without getting tripped up. After all, his old boss, Barack Obama, had his own share of controversy at Morehouse with his pep talk on personal responsibility. Let’s just hope Biden sticks to the script and doesn’t step on any toes.
