In the weeks leading up to commencement, college students across the country have protested Israel’s continued attacks on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Following the protests, several schools including Columbia University and the University of Southern California have canceled or postponed commencement ceremonies.

Regardless of protests elsewhere, Morgan State University’s graduate commencement went off on Thursday without any protest. The school plans to hold its undergraduate commencement at Saturday 10:00am.

During the 2024 to 2025 academic year, an activist organization known as Black Liberators Against Colonization and Korruption (BLACK) Underground staged multiple demonstrations at Morgan’s campus — its most recent was at Morgan’s career fair in March.

Between BLACK Underground’s repeated protests and last week’s coalition of college students from Johns Hopkins University, Towson University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Goucher College and others demonstrating at the encampment on Hopkins’ campus — student activism has drawn close to Morgan.

Morgan Chief of Police Lance Hatcher said they have plans in place if a protest happens on campus. According to him, the Morgan State University Police Department is aware of the demonstrations at other area colleges and universities but declined to reveal Morgan’s procedures in the event of a protest.

“We do have procedures and policies regarding protests. We don’t want to limit student’s free speech but we don’t want protests to interfere with the university’s business,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher described a situation that happened in April, in which BLACK Underground attempted to protest during a career fair. According to Hatcher, the protest during Morgan’s Career Fair wasn’t allowed to continue because it interfered with the conducting of business.

“The only places where people can protest is in between the Student Center and Hill Field House,” said Hatcher. “They cannot block access to any buildings.”

Also taking place on the same day as the spring undergraduate commencement is the 149th annual Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Preakness typically requires an abundance of support from Baltimore’s police departments due to VIPs in attendance, other guests and crowds ranging from 60,000 to more than 180,000 visitors.

Regardless, Hatcher said MSUPD has personnel and equipment prepared for commencement proceedings. According to Detective Niki Sennoy, a Baltimore Police spokesperson, Morgan has not requested additional support for the spring commencement.