Biden acknowledged students' voices and promised to work for ceasefire
Biden administration agreed to sell another $1 billion of arms and ammunition to Israel amid protests and ceasefire calls
Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in over 35,000 deaths since October 2023
President Joe Biden delivered commencement speech at Morehouse College on May 19, 2024
Protests part of larger movement demanding schools disclose, divest from companies with Israel military connections
Some graduates turned chairs away or walked out during speech
Students protested Biden's ongoing policy decisions in Israel-Gaza conflict
Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher called for ceasefire during speech
President Joe Biden delivered the commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta on May 19, 2024. The historically Black college event was met with protests from students due to Biden's ongoing policy decisions in Israel's war on Gaza. Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire during his speech, which received applause from the crowd and Biden himself.
Biden acknowledged the students' voices, promising to work around the clock for a ceasefire. Some graduates turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech as a sign of protest, while others walked out entirely. The president received a standing ovation from some attendees in the VIP section after finishing his speech.
The protests at Morehouse College were part of a larger movement across college campuses, with students demanding their schools disclose and divest from companies with financial investments or economic connections to military companies connected to Israel. Some alumni also urged Morehouse not to award Biden an honorary degree due to his moral complicity in the war.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 35,000 people killed since October 2023. The Biden administration agreed to send another $1 billion sale of arms and ammunition to Israel amid ongoing protests and calls for a ceasefire.
Biden's support in key states like Georgia will be crucial as the 2024 election approaches, with the rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump shedding light on both candidates' handling of the war.
The exact number of people killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since October 2023 is stated, but its accuracy should be verified from a reliable source
The number of graduates who protested Biden's speech is not specified in the article
President Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday, his first appearance on a college campus amid widespread unrest and anti-Israel protests.
One graduate called for an ‘immediate and permanent’ cease-fire in Gaza during his speech, which Biden endorsed.
Accuracy
Biden used the opportunity to address Black voters in particular and said they have to ‘be 10 times better than anybody else just to get a fair shot’ and that Republicans are not accepting of Black people.
Biden revived a misleading claim about Georgia election laws, stating that voters are banned from receiving food and water while in line at polling places.
A smattering of Morehouse students and faculty protested Biden’s speech by turning their backs on him for the duration of the speech.
Some students had urged the college to rescind Biden’s invitation, and a group of hundreds of alumni wrote a letter to the college saying he should not be the commencement speaker.
Deception
(30%)
The author makes editorializing statements and uses emotional manipulation in this article. He quotes a student calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and states that Biden 'clapped for the idea', implying Biden's support for the cease-fire. However, it is not clear from the text if Biden explicitly endorsed the student's statement or simply reacted to it. The author also quotes a student criticizing Biden's appearance at Morehouse and states that 'some students turned their backs on Biden', implying disapproval of Biden by the student body. However, it is not clear from the text how many students turned their backs or why they did so. These instances of selective reporting and emotional manipulation lower the score.
Biden took a swipe at Georgia’s election laws at one point in his speech, reviving a misleading claim that voters are banned from receiving food and water while in line at polling places.
The moment was the first clue to the contents of Biden’s address, as he would later go on to unequivocally call for Israel to impose an ‘immediate’ cease-fire. He also endorsed a two-state solution as ‘the only solution.’
A smattering of Morehouse students and faculty protested Biden’s speech by turning their backs on him for the duration of the speech.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to emotion by using the phrase 'they don't see you in the future of America' and making a racial accusation against Republicans. He also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'what in the hell is that all about?' when discussing Georgia election laws. The author does not provide any logical reasoning or evidence to support these statements.
They don’t see you in the future of America. But they’re wrong,
What in the hell is that all about?
Bias
(80%)
Anders Hagstrom demonstrates political bias by taking a clear stance against Republicans and endorsing the demand for a cease-fire in Gaza. He also makes an unfounded accusation that Republicans do not accept Black people.
Biden clapped for the idea when a graduate called for an ‘immediate and permanent’ cease-fire in Gaza during his speech.
They don’t see you in the future of America. But they’re wrong,
Today in Georgia, they won’t allow water to be available to you while you wait in line to vote in an election. What in the hell is that all about?
Morehouse students protested President Joe Biden's commencement speech due to his ongoing policy decisions in Israel's war on Gaza.
Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza strip during his speech, which was met with applause from the crowd and Biden.
Some graduates turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech, while others walked out as a sign of protest.
President Biden promised students that he hears their voices and is working around the clock for an immediate ceasefire.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article reports on students protesting during Joe Biden's commencement speech at Morehouse College due to his ongoing policy decisions in Israel's war on Gaza. The author quotes several statements from the students and valedictorian expressing their desire for a ceasefire and condemning the loss of civilian lives. However, the article also reports that some graduates turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech and others walked out as a sign of protest. While it is within these students' rights to protest, the author does not disclose this information until later in the article, which could be considered selective reporting. Additionally, there is an emotional appeal for readers to support peaceful nonviolent protest and for Biden's promise of working around the clock for an immediate ceasefire.
Some graduates who wore keffiyeh scarves and Palestinian flags opted to turn their chairs away from Biden for the duration of his speech, according to the New York Times.
The students who protested cited the president’s ongoing policy decisions in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Other graduates walked out of the ceremony as a sign of protest, though the Times notes that Biden’s speech was largely uninterrupted.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains a few inflammatory rhetorical statements and appeals to authority but no formal or informal fallacies. The author reports on the protest by Morehouse College students during Joe Biden's commencement address without endorsing or condemning the protest. The author also includes context about the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, as well as reactions from various parties.
The audience also included Morehouse alumni vocally supporting Biden during the ceremony, giving the president a standing ovation as he approached the stage, according to video taken from the event.
Bias
(50%)
The author Ashleigh Carter does not demonstrate any overt bias in the article. However, she does present information that could be perceived as biased based on the reader's political stance. The article describes students at Morehouse College protesting President Biden during his commencement speech due to his ongoing policy decisions in Israel's war on Gaza. The author presents quotes from students and faculty members expressing their views against Biden's policies, while also mentioning that some alumni gave him a standing ovation. The article does not take a clear stance for or against the protests or Biden's policies, but it could be perceived as biased based on the reader's political alignment. Therefore, I assign a score of 50.
]From the comfort of our homes, we watch an unprecedented number of civilians mourn the loss of men, women and children, while calling for the release of all hostages[
President Biden Delivers Commencement Address at Morehouse College A Morehouse College faculty member stands and faces away from the stage in protest of the Israel-Hamas war as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Morehouse College Commencement on May 19, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
Biden invoked scripture and lessons from his own past to define manhood as strength, respect, and dignity.
Biden called for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing war in Gaza and expressed concern from his family.
Accuracy
President Biden gave a commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Some graduates turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech.
Biden received a standing ovation from some attendees in the VIP section after finishing his speech.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The authors use the fallacy of dichotomous depiction by presenting a false dichotomy between two extremes: 'extremist forces aligned against the meaning and message of Morehouse' and 'manhood is about tough talk, abusing power, bigotry'. They also make an appeal to authority when they quote President Biden condemning white supremacy and extremist forces.
Their idea of being a man is toxic
That is not you. That is not us. Being a man is about strength and respect and dignity.
President Joe Biden gave a commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19, 2024
Several students protested during Biden’s speech due to his ongoing policy decisions in Israel’s war on Gaza
Valedictorian DeAngelo Fletcher called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza strip before Biden spoke
Some graduates turned their chairs away from Biden during his speech, while others walked out as a sign of protest
Biden received a standing ovation from some attendees in the VIP section after finishing his speech
Accuracy
One graduate called for an 'immediate and permanent' cease-fire in Gaza during his speech
Deception
(70%)
The article reports on student protests during Joe Biden's commencement speech at Morehouse College due to his ongoing policy decisions in Israel's war on Gaza. While the author does not make any editorializing statements herself, she does quote students and alumni who express their opinions about Biden's policies. However, the article also provides factual information about the number of civilians killed during the conflict and Biden's recent arms sale to Israel. The deception lies in selective reporting as the article only reports details that support the protesters' position, while omitting any counterarguments or context that could provide a more balanced perspective. For example, there is no mention of Hamas' role in the conflict or any justification for Israel's actions from Biden or his supporters.
Other graduates walked out of the ceremony as a sign of protest, though the Times notes that Biden’s speech was largely uninterrupted.
The students who protested cited the president’s ongoing policy decisions in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to emotion when describing the number of civilians mourning the loss of men, women and children in Gaza. This is an example of an appeal to pity fallacy.
][Morehouse alumni] gave the president a standing ovation as he approached the stage,
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses a clear bias towards the protesters by describing their actions as 'pro-Palestine protests' and 'staged protests', implying that they are taking an extreme or unreasonable position. She also quotes a faculty member who is protesting as standing 'in protest of the Israel-Hamas war'. The author does not provide any counterpoint or balance to these statements, which could give readers the impression that the protesters' views are valid and justified, without presenting any context or nuance.
A faculty member stands and faces away from the stage in protest of the Israel-Hamas war as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Morehouse College Commencement on May 19, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
several students staged pro-Palestine protests
Some graduates who wore keffiyeh scarves and Palestinian flags opted to turn their chairs away from Biden for the duration of his speech, according to the New York Times. Other graduates walked out of the ceremony as a sign of protest, though the Times notes that Biden’s speech was largely uninterrupted.
