A historically Black college in Mississippi is responding after U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s recent commencement speech drew threats.
In a statement released Monday, Tougaloo President Donzell Lee condemned the threats and said the school was taking active measures to ensure the safety of students and the campus.
“The school has received concerning calls regarding the commencement speech delivered by Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. We are not taking these occurrences lightly. Appropriate actions have been taken. Contact has been made with law enforcement authorities to ensure that safety protocols are in place, if needed,” Lee said in a May 5 statement.
Founded in 1869 to educate formerly enslaved people, Tougaloo College is located just outside Jackson, Mississippi, and has played a prominent role in the civil rights movement. In 1961, Tougaloo students staged a sit-in at a whites-only library in Jackson. The college was also a base for Freedom Summer. Notable alumni include activist Joan Mulholland and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Jan. 6 committee.
On May 4, the Class of 2025 celebrated graduation in front of the college chapel, joined by faculty, alumni, and hundreds of family and friends.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Crockett, who also received an honorary doctorate from Thompson. In her speech, Crockett honored the legacy of Tougaloo students who helped shape the civil rights movement, emphasizing the lasting impact of their courage and commitment.
She urged graduates to reflect on the powerful legacy of the campus they walked each day. She reminded them they studied in the same classrooms once occupied by civil rights icons like Anne Moody and Memphis Norman, and walked the same grounds where the Tougaloo Nine organized their historic protest.
Crockett also drew parallels between the past and the present political climate, reminding students of the challenges they face today.
“Sadly enough, in the year of our Lord 2025, sitting in these very classrooms is just as much of a protest as Anne and Memphis pulling up to Woolworth’s in 1963,” she said.
She acknowledged that her presence at the ceremony had stirred some controversy and said there had been pushback against her participation.
“To think about the fact that people have to be fearful of having a sitting member of Congress to come and address their graduates tells us that we still got a lot of work to do,” she said. “The reality is that this harkens back to a man named Martin. They decided that he wanted to go out and educate and invigorate during the civil rights movement, and it was here at Tougaloo that he could come and speak. In fact, it was the only institution in Mississippi that he could come and speak.”
Crockett closed by encouraging students to embrace their power and place in society.
“Your moment is now,” she said. “This country is relying on each and every one of you to walk into your purpose and to walk in greatness with your head held high. There are going to be people that tell you that you don’t belong. I am here to tell you over and over and over that you absolutely belong.”
Rep. Crockett did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This story will be updated with additional information.
Angela Dennis is a Race and Culture Reporter in Tennessee. She can be reached at AngelaDennisNews@gmail.com or Angela@blackwithnochaser.com
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