Vice President J.D. Vance visited the University of Mississippi campus on Thursday, Oct. 29, for a Turning Point USA event, along with Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk. A coalition of progressive student organizations also held a counter-protest on campus.
Here are some of the photos from the evening.
Vice President JD Vance encouraged University of Mississippi students to get married young and have kids during his speech at Turning Point USA’s event at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at the University of Mississippi on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
A crowd of people wearing red “Make America Great Again” and white “47” hats listen attentively as Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at the University of Mississippi on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk shares memories of her deceased husband, Charlie Kirk, as she stands on stage in front of almost 10,000 people at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at the University of Mississippi on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
An attendee from the Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi asks Vice President JD Vance a question while standing by a member of the vice president’s team at the front of a line of dozens of people at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Two men wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats and a man wearing a white “47” hat wait in line to ask Vice President JD Vance questions at the University of Mississippi’s Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
On Oct. 29, 2025, at Turning Point USA’s event at the University of Mississippi’s Sandy and John Black Pavilion, a man wearing a white “Turning Point USA” t-shirt and a red “Make America Great Again” hat asks Vice President JD Vance about the Trump administration sending the National Guard to various Democratic-run cities across the U.S. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Thousands of people came to the Sandy and John Pavilion on Oct. 29, 2025, to hear Vice President JD Vance and Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk speak at the University of Mississippi. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Many current and former Republican Mississippi lawmakers, including former Gov. Phil Bryant (left) came to the Sandy and John Pavilion on Oct. 29, 2025, to hear Vice President JD Vance and Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk speak at the University of Mississippi. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
A woman wearing a white “47” hat waves a small American flag as she sits in the Sandy and John Pavilion at the University of Mississippi’s Turning Point USA event on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Thousands of people clad in rain jackets and holding umbrellas waited for hours outside of the Sandy and John Pavilion at the University of Mississippi to attend the Turning Point USA event on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Heather Harrison, Mississippi Free Press
Elizabeth Wildman, president of the University of Mississippi College Democrats, speaks at the Rise Up Town Hall on the University of Mississippi campus on Oct. 29, 2025. The town hall was held to counter Vice President J.D. Vance’s event. Photo by Christina Steube
Around 150 people attended the counter rally while Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at the University of Mississippi on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Christina Steube
Tennessee House Rep. Gloria Johnson, one of the “Tennessee Three,” speaks to students at the Rise Up Town Hall on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Christina Steube
James Thomas, an associate professor of sociology, speaks at the Rise Up Town Hall while University of Mississippi College Democrats President Elizabeth Wildman (left) and Vice President Calvin Wood (right) listen from behind at the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 29, 2025. Photo by Christina Steube
After the Rise Up Mississippi Town Hall, some attendees headed to the Powerhouse Community Arts Center in Oxford, Miss., for a drag bingo event to benefit LGBTQ+ student groups. Drag performer Kama Flauge is seen here holding up tips from the crowd on Oct. 29, 2025. The crowd included attendees from the Rise Up Mississippi Town Hall. Photo by Christina Steube
Drag performer Lady Pluto performs at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center at a drag bingo event to benefit LGBTQ+ student groups in Oxford, Miss., on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2025. The crowd included attendees from the Rise Up Mississippi Town Hall. Photo by Christina Steube
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State Reporter Heather Harrison graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Communication in 2023. She worked at The Reflector student newspaper for three years, starting as a staff writer, then the news editor before becoming the editor-in-chief. She also worked for Starkville Daily News after college covering the Board of Aldermen meetings. Heather has won more than a dozen awards for her multi-media journalism work.
In her free time, Heather likes to walk her dog, Finley, read books, and listen to Taylor Swift. She lives in Pearl and is a native of Hazlehurst.
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