Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held an event on Auburn’s campus on Nov. 5, 2025. In lieu of the event, protesters gathered at the intersection of Thach Concourse and South Donahue at 5 p.m. while the TPUSA event started at 6:30 p.m. The protest was peaceful and unaffiliated with any student organizations.
The protesters expressed their frustration with Auburn University and their perceived lack of concern for minority issues. Several focused on the idea of the Auburn Family, chanting, “Auburn Family, remember your humanity.”
“You can’t be a family and hate half your population,” said one protester holding a sign reading “What happened to the Auburn Family?”
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AU Family remember your humanity .m4a
Faith Fluker, a senior at Auburn University majoring in communications, believes that Auburn hosting a TPUSA event is an escalation in a string of issues with the university, including the recent terminations over posts made about Charlie Kirk and a racial slur written in the snow earlier this year.
“We’re frustrated, we feel like we haven’t been listened to,” Fluker said. “Students through various organizations and as individuals have expressed their displeasure with Auburn.”
To Fluker and other protesters, the protested event is “hurtful to students” since Auburn University allowed TPUSA to host a large event despite the organization speaking out against diversity, equity and inclusion. According to Fluker, the move is especially painful after minority students have lost spaces on campus.
“We are continuously losing things, and it feels like the safe space for us is continuously getting smaller,” said Fluker. “So we don’t care if it has to be a small circle on the side of the street, Auburn will hear us because it is important that they do hear us. If we keep losing these safe spaces, we’re just going to get louder.”
Another protester, who wore a Black Lives Matter pin and held a sign quoting Charlie Kirk’s controversial statement about the Civil Rights Act, said that Auburn should not be partisan whatsoever.
“I’m personally shocked and disheartened that Auburn let such an event happen in such a large place,” he said.
One student holds a sign on Toomer’s Corner with a quote of Charlie Kirk’s saying “We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s” to peacefully protest against a Turning Point USA event held at Neville Arena on Nov. 5, 2025.
While protestors chanted, some people standing in line for the event yelled at them. One man walked by and shouted “Long live King Donald!”
After 45 minutes, the line for the TPUSA event began moving inside Neville Arena, and once they were in, the protestors moved to Toomer’s Corner.
On their five minute walk, protesters walked through the streets of Auburn chanting various phrases, many of which related to the general state of America.
“Love not hate, makes America great,” and “No hate, no fear, everyone is welcome here,” were both among the chants sung while walking.
Protestors also chanted about TPUSA’s presence, chanting, “Turning Point turn around!”
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AU Family remember your humanity .m4a
Upon the protesters’ arrival, they mingled with the sit-in protesters there.
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Damarius Nolan-Watts, Auburn alum and citizen, stated that his protest wasn’t a part of the TPUSA protest, nor did he know about it. Though, Watts did mention that the sit-in is a daily peaceful protest where he and others sit with signs.
“We’ve been out here [at Toomer’s Corner] for five years now. Today is 1,984 days since our original organizer, Dr. Kelly Thompson started the protest after the killing of George Floyd,” Watts said.
Watts expressed that he joined this sit-in around days 42 or 43. He also claimed that the group celebrates a milestone once they reach a new 100 days.
While they were mingling, Grant McEacharn, sophomore in supply chain management approached and asked a protester what their cause was for and asked about a “Don’t tread on me,” sign.
One protester holds a sign reading ‘No kings’ to peacefully protest at Toomer’s Corner against a Turning Point USA event held at Neville Arena on Nov. 5, 2025.
McEacharn said he heard about the protest and came out to look to see what the group was about. He claimed that he was “all for” the group using their First Amendment right. McEacharn expressed that he was glad that other Auburn students were expressing their rights in a respectful manner, and that there was “nothing crazy” on the protestors’ signs.
“I’m just glad to see they’re voicing their opinions and they’re not going about it in a wrong way,” McEacharn said. “If you believe something, you should come out here [Toomer’s Corner], and show it like this. On a sign is good, I don’t think you should yell at other people for voicing their opinion. No matter what side you’re on, speaking about it and just bringing the issue up is better than just bickering at each other.”
At Toomer’s, the protestors continued chanting once again, facing the road from about 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
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While the protest groups were at Toomer’s, many citizens passing by on foot and in vehicles cheered and honked in support. On the other side, those that didn’t support the protestors’ efforts yelled out of their cars, with one giving protestors the middle finger.
“Ya’ll are re—,” one person shouted from their vehicle.
“Trump, baby! Woo! Go home!” another called.
Despite some tense interactions between protesters and passerby, the protest remained peaceful.
For those interested in more coverage on the TPUSA event, click here.
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Brychelle Brooks | Editor-in-Chief
Brychelle Brooks, senior majoring in public and professional writing with a minor in information systems, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since August 2023. She previously served as the Campus Reporter, Opinion Editor and Newsletter Editor. She is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief.
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