Morehouse School of Medicine Students Protest Commencement Speaker Selection

Students at Morehouse School of Medicine are voicing strong opposition to the administration's choice of graduation speaker, marking the latest controversy over commencement addresses at HBCU institutions.

The medical school announced that U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican and alumnus of the institution, would deliver the address at the May 16 ceremony. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, school leaders framed the invitation as a "homecoming" for the congressman.

However, students have responded with a four-page letter to administration expressing concerns that McCormick's "political views and legislative record are in direct opposition to our institution's values and harmful to the very patients we aim to serve."

In their written appeal, students specifically took issue with McCormick's positions on several key areas:

• Opposition to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives
• Stance on undocumented immigrants
• Position on gender-affirming care
• Endorsement of President Donald Trump

The students emphasized that their opposition extends beyond mere political disagreement.

This decision goes beyond political disagreement.



We hope leadership understands that the hurt and frustration surrounding this decision stem not only from differing opinions but from the feeling that student voices, lived experiences, and trust in institutional leadership are being overlooked.

On Wednesday, students took their protest to campus, holding signs reading "DEI Saves Lives" while urging administrators to reconsider their decision.

McCormick, who is the first graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine elected to Congress and has previously spoken at the institution, indicated he still plans to attend and deliver the address. In a statement, he said:

I plan to deliver the speech to honor my alma mater, celebrate the graduates' achievements, and continue a tradition I've been part of before. My character and contributions should be judged on merit, not politics or appearance.

Speaking at a town hall in Marietta, McCormick acknowledged the protests were personally difficult. "That's my alma mater," he said. "I got protests in the last couple of days, and it was hurtful."

The controversy at Morehouse School of Medicine mirrors a recent situation at South Carolina State University, where student backlash prompted officials to withdraw Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette as commencement speaker, citing security concerns.

Originally reported by HBCU Sports.