President Joe Biden addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza and highlighted his administration’s investments in Black communities during a commencement speech at Morehouse College on Sunday. This event is part of a broader strategy to reenergize the voter coalition that was instrumental in his 2020 election victory.

“We’re connecting Black neighborhoods cut off by old highways and decades of disinvestment when no one cared about the community,” Biden stated at Morehouse, a historically Black men’s college in Atlanta. He emphasized policy achievements such as his student loan relief program and a new $16 billion investment in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Biden’s speech at Morehouse comes at a time when polling indicates a decline in enthusiasm among Black voters, particularly younger ones. According to an NBC News average of national polls since April 1, Biden’s support among Black voters is 7 percentage points lower than it was at this point in 2020, while former President Donald Trump’s support from Black voters has increased by 9 percentage points. Despite this, Biden still holds a majority support among Black voters at 69% compared to Trump’s 18%.

The president’s speech addressed the emotional and political landscape shaped by the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has fueled protests on college campuses. “Your voices should be heard, and I promise you I hear them,” Biden said. “What’s happening in Gaza and Israel is heartbreaking. That’s why I’ve called for an immediate cease-fire.”

The speech was largely uninterrupted by protests, although some students and faculty showed support for Gaza during the ceremony. Overall, Biden’s remarks were well-received by attendees. “I’m happy with his words that he said,” said Morehouse graduating senior Sebastian Gordon. “I’m just gonna continue to watch to make sure his actions line up with that.”

The Morehouse address is one component of a larger effort to reconnect with Black voters and regain the momentum from the 2020 election, where Biden secured 87% of the Black vote according to NBC News exit polling data. Before the commencement speech, Biden held a campaign event with Georgia voters and planned to meet with small-business owners in Detroit, followed by remarks to the NAACP.

Vice President Kamala Harris has also been actively engaging with Black voters throughout Biden’s first term. Recently, she has been on a “Economic Opportunity Tour,” promoting the administration’s efforts to lower costs and enhance economic opportunities for underserved communities, particularly Black communities.

Treasury Undersecretary Wally Adeyemo, usually involved in international economic discussions, has been visiting U.S. battleground states to highlight Biden’s economic policies. Adeyemo is scheduled to tour Nevada with Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford to discuss the administration’s progress on lowering energy and child care costs, following a similar trip to Wisconsin with Vice President Harris.

“The number of Black small businesses have doubled during the Biden-Harris administration,” Adeyemo stated. “And when Black Americans do well, everyone does well.”