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Vice President JD Vance visits UGA for Turning Point USA rally; protests expected

By
Dan Raby
Senior Digital Producer, CBS News Atlanta
Dan Raby, the senior digital producer for CBS News Atlanta, has been covering everything happening around Georgia for more than a decade.
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Dan Raby

/ CBS Atlanta

At a recent Turning Point USA rally held at the University of Georgia, Vice President J.D. Vance proceeded with his scheduled appearance despite heightened security discussions and protests outside the venue. 

Erika Kirk, who was slated to co-appear, withdrew from the event, citing threats and concerns raised by her security team. According to a person familiar with internal discussions, Kirk's withdrawal was based on unspecified security worries, including hostile or threatening messages she may have received—some via social media.

However, CBS News reports that the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of national leaders, determined there were no credible or specific threats tied to the venue, the vice president, or the event itself. 

The site was deemed secure, and after being briefed by his protective detail, Vance chose to proceed as planned.

The event drew protests from students and community members, reflecting broader tensions over the presence of high-profile conservative speakers on college campuses. Despite the protests and Kirk's withdrawal, Vance spoke at the indoor venue without disruption.

The visit to the University of Georgia is one of five on the This Is Turning Point USA Tour, which also includes stops at George Washington, Ohio State, Baylor, and the University of Idaho.

"Each stop is a chance to honor Charlie's mission and keep the fight alive. We know he wouldn't want us to surrender or be coerced into silence. Free speech is only free if we use our voices," the event description reads.

The event is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center. The doors opened at 1:30 p.m. Tickets were free, but attendance on a first-come-first-served basis.

Last year, Kirk endorsed a potential presidential bid by Vance after President Trump is out of office, telling crowds at the group's annual conference that "We are going to get my husband's friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible."

The event is one of the first at which the vice president will appear after the historic round of face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran, which ended over the weekend without reaching an agreement.

With such high profile conservative voices visiting the campus, some students, including members of the UGA Young Democrats and the University of Georgia's Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter, say they are planning to hold a protest outside the venue during the event.

"Get Ready to Get Loud," the organizations wrote on an Instagram post promoting the demonstration.

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