The Mississippi Democratic Party (MSDP) is supporting the Young Democrats of Ole Miss and their partner organizations in hosting the "Mississippi Rise Up Town Hall" on Wednesday at the same time as Turning Point USA and Vice President J.D. Vance will be on campus.
The Young Democrats will rally Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union.
Turning Point USA and the Vice President J.D. Vance will be at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion that same evening.
The Young Democrat’s counter-event will host Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson and University of Mississippi Professor of Sociology Dr. James Thomas.
The Young Democrat’s event, “and exemplifies the democratic values of civic engagement, free expression, and thoughtful discourse that are essential to our democracy,” the Mississippi Democratic Party said in a press release announcing the event.
The town hall, organized in partnership with UM Environmental Coalition, UM Forward, Southern Progressives Alliance, Community Alliance Network, Lafayette County Democratic Party, and United Campus Workers, will provide students and community members an opportunity to engage with elected officials, community organizers, and fellow citizens on the issues that matter most to Mississippians.
"We are incredibly proud of these student leaders who are standing up and making their voices heard," said MSDP Chairman Cheikh Taylor. "In Mississippi and across America, we believe in the fundamental right to free speech for all, and that includes the right of these students to organize, to speak, and to present alternative viewpoints. Democracy thrives when young people engage thoughtfully with the political process, ask tough questions, and demand accountability from their leaders. These students are doing exactly that, and we stand firmly beside them."
“The MSDP recognizes that a healthy democracy requires robust debate and the free exchange of ideas,” the Mississippi Democratic Party said in its press release. “While the partyrespects the rights of all organizations to hold events and express their perspectives, we are equally committed to ensuring that progressive voices—especially those of young Mississippians who represent the future of our state—are heard loud and clear.”
The "Mississippi Rise Up Town Hall" will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, at the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union. The Turning Point event will see the doors open at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at 3 p.m. with the event starting at 5 p.m.
The Turning Point event requires a ticket and all entering The Pavilion will be screened by security.
