In response to Tuesday’s Turning Point USA event featuring Vice President JD Vance, a large number of protesters gathered outside the venue to voice their opposition.
Beginning at 5 p.m., the protest, largely organized by five groups including: 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, met near the statue of Athena outside The Classic Center on North Thomas Street.
Read more about Turning Point USA's visit and its focus on faith
However, the protest eventually moved to Foundry Street just outside Akins Ford Arena, where several speakers such as Georgia State Rep. Eric Gisler, mayoral candidate Tim Denson and UGA Young Democratic Socialists of America chair Aspen David rallied the crowd against both the TPUSA organization and the vice president.
A line of protesters yells at attendees of the Turning Point USA Tour Stop, where Vice President JD Vance was in attendance on Foundry Street in Athens on April 14, 2026. After the event, protesters and departing attendees exchanged verbal arguments. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A woman wearing a Turning Point USA hat that reads "Freedom" walks away quickly as protesters and attendees exchange verbal arguments on Foundry Street, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A mother hugs her child at the protest while holding a sign that reads "This Christian pastor + mother stands against Christian Nationism + Fascism" on Foundry Street. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A crowd of Turning Point USA Tour attendees leaves Akins Ford Arena after listening to remarks by the Vice President JD Vance on Foundry Street, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. While Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA's CEO, was originally supposed to attend the talk, she did not due to what (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Georgia State Rep. Eric Gisler speaks to protesters through a megaphone on Foundry Street, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Rep. Gisler was voted in during a special election in 2025 but will be up for reelection in November 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Two police officers on the roof of The Classic Center watch over the nearby protest on Foundry Street. Outside the venue, security ranged from local police to members of the Vice President's Secret Service. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A protester in a fox mask holds a sign that reads, "Who let the fox guard the hen WHITEHOUSE?" outside The Classic Center on North Thomas Street. Protesters originally met at 5:30 p.m. at the statue of Athena, then walked toward the venue on Foundry Street. (Photo/Park McCollum)
Two protesters carry an inflatable green couch that reads "Fascists" on North Thomas Street on April 14, 2026. The couch is likely a reference to a false rumor spread online about Vice President JD's book, Hillbilly Elegy, in which an online user claimed there was a scene where he has intercourse with a couch. This was quickly proven to be false. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A protester holds a sign that reads "Healthcare not warfare" on North Thomas Street, April 14, 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Mayoral Candidate Tim Denson speaks to protesters on Foundry Street on Tuesday. Denson is currently running for mayor of Athens-Clarke County as a Democratic Socialist, competing against several other candidates to replace the current mayor, Kelly Girtz, who has reached his term limit and can no longer run. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Aspen David, chair of the University of Georgia Young Democratic Socialists of America, yells into a megaphone in front of protesters on Foundry Street during a protest during a Turning Point UGA event on April 14, 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Duke Geddis, a Korean War veteran, holds a sign that reads "There's something happening here...," a reference to the popular Buffalo Springfield anti-war song associated with protests against the Vietnam War on North Thomas Street. Geddis said he served in the Air Force on the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, which is why he was concerned by the actions of the Trump Administration's Department of Defense. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A woman holds a sign at the protest that reads "Beware False Prophets" on Foundry Street during a protest outside of The Classic Center on April 14, 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
From left to right, Tyler-Curtis (who gave only his first name) and Joe Dakin hold signs that read "Are you ready to die for Trump's Ego?" and "MAGA" crossed out, on Foundry Street. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
A crowd of protesters chants in front of The Classic Center on North Thomas Street opposite the Turning Point UGA event on April 14, 2026. (Photo/Parker McCollum)
Parker McCollum is a journalism major in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
