As former Vice President Mike Pence stepped onto the stage in Gaston Hall last Wednesday night, the state of our student body reflected the state of our nation’s political divide. Some rose to a standing ovation. Others, however, sat silently and averted their eyes, waiting for the cheering to subside.
Last Wednesday’s event—a collaboration between GU Politics and the Young America’s Foundation—focused on the future of the conservative movement. The event provided students an opportunity to engage directly with former Vice President Pence.
Not all of Georgetown, however, was enthusiastic about Pence’s appearance. In the days leading up to the event, students formulated a strategy to protest. Through GroupMe chats, email threads, a meeting, and word of mouth, demonstrators gathered fellow students sympathetic to their cause.
When the day of the event arrived, demonstrators rushed to occupy the first spaces in the line. By 5 p.m., two hours before the 7 p.m. start time, the line extended out and around Healy Hall.
As more students trickled into the growing line, some of the anti-Pence demonstrators handed out flyers listing several of his controversial policies regarding LGBTQ, abortion, and race-related topics. In bold font, the bottom of this flyer read: “IS THIS OKAY WITH YOU?” Printed next to this was a QR code directing students to the “Pence Walkout” GroupMe.
When the event began, Vice President Pence jumped into his speech without interruption. He spoke of his early life and the family values that shaped him. He opened up about his Christian faith and how it has guided him on his personal journey. Pence appeared comfortably engaged, often supplemented his story with quick one-liners that gained him laughs from the crowd.
The lighthearted nature of the event, however, did not last very long. As he transitioned into the political segment of his speech, Pence raised the issue of the “woke agenda” in America. In response, a small group of protestors stood up and exited Gaston Hall. Demonstrators on the balcony unveiled a banner that read “LGBTQ+, Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights.”
Moments later, Vice President Pence singled out the protestors by addressing those who are “intent on imposing their agenda or walking out on people that might have a different point of view.” Some of those still in Gaston applauded Pence’s not-so-subtle jab.
Despite the anticipation before the event, the demonstration proved to be relatively calm. Protests occurred peacefully, and those who remained had the opportunity to engage with the former Vice President later on. Following the brief walkout, Pence quickly moved onto his next topic, and event staff began refilling the empty seats within minutes.
For the majority of the remaining time, Vice President Pence made remarks that were political and calculated, emphasizing Republican talking points. In particular, he highlighted the impact of inflation and high prices on the American people, an issue that will prove decisive in the upcoming midterm elections. In many ways, his comments appeared characteristic of someone who still believes he has a future in the Republican party.
Perhaps he does. During the Q&A period, students were curious about his political ambitions. When asked if he would vote for Trump in 2024, Pence responded by saying “there might be somebody else I’d prefer more,” and later said, “I’ll keep you posted.” Everyone in attendance understood the reference.
By the end of the night, Vice President Pence’s message could be summed up in one line: the future of America lies in freedom. In Pence’s eyes, his political fight to protect freedom is not yet over. Whether the young generation will adopt his image of freedom, however, is yet to be determined.
