A Turning Point USA event featuring Vice President JD Vance drew hundreds inside of Akins Ford Arena in Athens on April 14. The event saw a smaller-than-expected turnout, with many seats in the arena left empty, but a large number of protesters gathered outside of the venue in opposition.
The “This is the Turning Point” tour, which had its second stop at the University of Georgia, is a collection of spring tour events at multiple universities. Its first stop was George Washington University on April 2, and after UGA, plans are set to visit Ohio State University, Baylor University and University of Idaho with more to be announced. Vance is only the second sitting vice president to visit Athens.
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Erika Kirk Not in Attendance
Turning Point USA chairwoman and CEO Erika Kirk was scheduled to appear at the Tuesday event alongside the Vice President, but she ended up not attending. According to Vance, her absence was due to receiving threats.
During a Q-and-A conversation with TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, Vance said he was worried organizers would have to cancel the Athens event. Kirk is not scheduled to attend any of the other future stops on the tour.
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JD Vance Heckled by Attendee
A little over 10 minutes into his presentation, Vance was heckled by an audience member. Collin Young, who was later seen outside of the venue involved in the protest, was ultimately removed after interrupting Vance.
Vance did end up addressing Young’s comments, but repeatedly referred to him as “random dude screaming.”
I realized that if I was gonna be there [at the event] I might as well do something. So, I yelled out at JD, I was sitting pretty close, I said ‘Jesus Christ didn’t support genocide’ And it was dead silent,” Young said.
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The Protest Outside
Five groups organized the protest that began shortly after the event started at 5 p.m. The groups included the Young Democrats of UGA, UGA Young Democratic Socialists of America, Athens-Clarke County Democrats, Athens Area Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible Georgia 10 and United Campus Workers of Georgia. Participants were told to meet at the Statue of Athena in front of The Classic Center. The crowd quickly moved closer to Akins Ford Arena, ending up just outside of the entrance on Foundry Street.
Aspen David, a protester who helped organize the gathering with UGA Young Democratic Socialists of America, pointed to multiple concerns he has with the Trump administration.
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“I would say that it would be more of a question of why wouldn’t one organize this protest,” David said.
The protest continued outside the venue as the event ended and attendees began to leave. Demonstrators remained in place as crowds filtered out with both groups engaging in verbal arguments.
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Question-Asking Process
During the event, audience members, who numbered less than expected with many empty seats throughout the arena, were invited to line up to ask JD Vance questions directly. Attendees had the option to submit questions online to Turning Point USA in advance for a chance to be selected. However, according to both an attendee of a previous Turning Point USA event and an individual who got in line at this event, staff appeared to move people within the line based on the nature of their questions.
Only five questions were initially scheduled. Before the fifth, a moderator indicated it would be the final question, but Vance asked for additional questions and three more individuals were able to speak. The topics addressed included immigration, the Epstein files, Charlie Kirk, economic mobility and more.
Shea Brown is a journalism major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
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