ATLANTA — As President Joe Biden's upcoming commencement speech caused mixed feelings at Morehouse College, the president recently sat down with NPR to discuss how the school is preparing for possible protests.
Morehouse College President David Thomas said in the interview that he is ready to cancel the ceremony if protests become disruptive.
"The last thing that we want to do is create a moment where someone is taken out of commencement by law enforcement because they are being disruptive," he told NPR. "Faced with the choice of having police take people out of the Morehouse commencement in zip ties, we would essentially cancel or discontinue the commencement services on the spot."
He made similar comments to CNN Thursday, the outlet reported.
"We will allow silent non-disruptive protests," Thomas said. "So, you know, I had students ask me about it, what if we, you know, turned our backs on the president or turned our chairs? And I said to them, I'll be embarrassed, but that's not your problem. As long as you don't conduct yourself in a way that deprives others from being able to participate, consume, and celebrate this moment for their graduates. If you want to walk across the stage in a piece of garment that identifies your moral connection to either side of this conflict, you can do that."
Dozens of demonstrations have erupted across the country and at Georgia colleges to protest the war in Gaza in support of Palestine, some escalating into clashes with police. A demonstration at Emory University on April 26 led to at least 28 people being arrested. Almost a week later, 16 protesters were arrested at the University of Georgia.
The Morehouse College president also told NPR he feels he has been "demonized" for allowing Biden to be the commencement speaker.
"It hurts when you're demonized," Thomas added. "You know, a flyer was put out a couple of weeks ago. One side, it says, 'President David Thomas is a hand of the white man's violence, supporting genocide and terrorism.' It also hurts when I have to worry about not whether my students disagree with the decision to bring Biden but that they may also be susceptible to weaponization by those who want to demonize anybody who's on the other side of the issue as compared to them."
RELATED: Biden's upcoming graduation speech stirs Morehouse College, a center of Black politics and culture
Thomas told NPR despite the criticism, he is standing by his decision, calling the moment "somewhere that can visualize the ability to hold the tensions that in so many ways are threatening to divide our society."
11Alive previously spoke with Morehouse students, stirring a debate about the decision. Some students called the move strategic as he faces tension with young voters and communities of color as he is up for election.
Morehouse sophomore Raman Enigbokan, a sophomore kinesiology major, said he saw Biden's visit as a campaign stop and a political tool in an election year.
“It’s not something I feel like I’d honestly partake in that commencement," Enigbokan said. "I don’t see myself being there. At the end of the day, this is something that’s on his political agenda to kind of maybe get more young, Black voters or something.”
Kristoff Kerr will walk across the stage on Sunday. The communications major said if protests occur Sunday, he would not participate.
"I think a lot of people here have a respect for the community and respect for the school that we’d treat it as our own and not disrespect it, what it stands for and the people that go here,” Kerr said. "None of us have had graduations before, and I think that’s a big thing to kind of bring upon one person to turn our graduation into a political event.”
Sophomore Sexton Chapman said Morehouse had a rich history of social activism and expects protests to occur in some form at the ceremony.
"It’s conflicting. I think it’s a blessing to have somebody like the president come to Morehouse," Chapman said. "But especially with everything going on and not agreeing with decisions being made up top, it’s definitely conflicting. This is a very vocal school just with everything, and I think that’s the fabric of what makes up AUC, of what makes up Morehouse. It’s the graduates’ day. It’s their day. I want them to make sure when you put in so much work, blood, sweat and tears to get that degree and walk across the stage, it’s important for them.”
Thomas feels, despite the tension, the moment is historic because of the White House's important footprint that will be left on Morehouse's campus.
"I hope they walk away understanding the importance of Morehouse in the world. There are thousands of colleges, universities in this country. And Morehouse is the place where the president decided to come and give what may be the most important speech of his presidency," he told NPR.
President Biden is expected to give the speech in Atlanta on Sunday, May 19, at the graduation ceremony, which will start at 9 a.m.