Pence Visits Atlanta to Stump for Kemp, Protest Planned
Vice President Mike Pence addressing supporters at a Living Word Bible Church service in 2016. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
UPDATE: Vice President Mike Pence has cancelled his Atlanta Visit due to Hurricane Michael. As a result, the protest has also been called off.
Vice President Mike Pence will be visiting Atlanta tomorrow to stump for Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Brian Kemp, but his presence brings with it unrest. Plans for protest are underway.
Kemp will be visiting a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility and then headline a fundraiser for Kemp, hosted by the Georgia GOP. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Air Force Two will touch down at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 1:40 p.m., and Pence will be greeted by Kemp, state House Speaker David Ralston and Attorney General Chris Carr.
Kemp will tour Delta’s TechOps maintenance facility, then attend the GOP’s “Victory Dinner” in Buckhead. Gov. Nathan Deal, Ralston and U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue will also be in attendance, according to the report.
But not everyone is excited about the visit. Refuse Fascism ATL is hosting a protest they’re calling 100 Rainbow Flags Against VP Pence. “We’re calling for 100 volunteers (SEND US A MESSAGE) to bring rainbow flags and stand against Mike Pence when he comes to stump for Brian Kemp,” according to the Facebook event.
Pence’s visit coincides with National Coming Out Day, an irony the protest group is capitalizing on. “Join us for National Coming Out (Against Pence) Day as we gather in front of the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead!” the event reads.
This will be Pence’s first trip to Georgia since July. He was scheduled to visit in September, but that trip was canceled due to Hurricane Florence, the AJC reports.