Delivering Commencement Address, Biden Calls for ‘An Immediate Ceasefire’
President touches on variety of issues in Morehouse remarks
President Biden clearly had young voters — especially young, Black voters — in mind with the issues he touched upon as he delivered the annual commencement address at Morehouse College, an historically Black college in Atlanta, Ga.
In relation to one matter in which he’s been especially struggling with the young voters who could prove pivotal in his hopes for reelection, Biden said that he wants “an immediate ceasefire” in Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.
Young Americans — especially college students — have been motivated by the violence in Gaza, in which some 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its current military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
Most of those Palestinians killed have been young children and women.
Students have been engaging in protests over Biden’s willingness to supply US arms to Israel in the conflict.
The president acknowledged that innocent Palestinians have been slaughtered, and that the violence has created a deep humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with disease and famine.
“That’s why I’ve called for an immediate ceasefire — an immediate ceasefire to stop the fighting — bring the hostages home,” Biden said to applause from the audience. “And I’ve been working on a deal as we speak, working around the clock to lead an international effort to get more aid into Gaza, rebuild Gaza.
“I’m also working around the clock for more than just one ceasefire. I’m working to bring the region together. I’m working to build a lasting, durable peace,” he added. “Because the question is, as you see what’s going on in Israel today: What after? What after Hamas? What happens then? What happens in Gaza? What rights do the Palestinian people have?
“I’m working to make sure we finally get a two-state solution — the only solution — for two people to live in peace, security, and dignity,” Biden said, to further applause.
He touched on other issues, as well. That includes his administration’s increased funding for historically Black colleges and universities like Morehouse.
Biden also condemned Republicans in red states who increasingly are setting into law bans on books that include LGBTQ+ themes and Black history.
“I never thought I’d be present in a time when there’s a national effort to ban books — not to write history but to erase history,” he said. “They don’t see you in the future of America. But they’re wrong. To me, we make history, not erase it. We know Black history is American history.”
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