Biden Shares Heartbreak on Gaza Conflict, Calls for Ceasefire at Morehouse Graduation

On Sunday, President Joe Biden directly acknowledged the distress of US students over the Israel-Hamas war during his address to the graduates of historically Black Morehouse College. He expressed his support for peaceful nonviolent protests and assured the students that their voices were being heard. Biden also spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting and bring home hostages held by Hamas.The president's speech focused on American democracy and its challenges, including the rhetoric on immigrants by former President Donald Trump and the murder of George Floyd. He questioned the effectiveness of democracy for Black communities, given the ongoing issues they face.Protests over the war have affected college campuses across America, with some backlash against Biden's handling of the conflict. Despite this, there were no disruptions during Morehouse's commencement, and applause for Biden was mostly subdued.Biden was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by Morehouse College. After accepting the honor, he joked about not going home as chants of "four more years" broke out in the audience. Later, he flew to Detroit to address thousands attending the local NAACP chapter's annual Freedom Fund dinner.