Former Republican Vice President Mike Pence told a Middle Tennessee State University audience Tuesday about his role in certifying Democrat Joe Biden as the 2020 presidential election winner despite threats from rioters at the U.S. Capitol.
“I did my duty that day to support the Constitution of the United States,” Pence told about 900 people packed into Tucker Theatre at MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Although the former vice president faced questions about his conservative positions, the crowd gave Pence a standing ovation when he entered the stage to be the guest speaker of MTSU’s Constitution Day celebration that’s part of the university’s Constitution Week activities.
Some students including Aidan Ross and Alice Guo stood outside Tucker Theatre holding signs to protest Pence because of his positions on the rights of minority populations.
“We’re talking about the speech of everyone,” said Ross, a junior audio production major at MTSU. “He’s worked to silence the voices of LGBTQI+ and others. Democracy is the voice of everybody in America.”
“Pence doesn’t really respect democracy,” said Guo, a junior majoring in sociology and history.
A week before Pence’s speech, some student organizations on campus like MTSU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America expressed disdain at the university scheduling him as speaker for the Constitution Day event. MTLAMBDA, the school’s largest LGBTQ+ organization, also condemned the event in a social media statement, detailing a number of anti-LGBTQ+ positions Pence has taken over the years.
More: Ex-VP Mike Pence to speak at Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday, stirring student pushback
MTSU history professor Mary A. Evins, the event moderator, asked Pence to respond to the concerns mentioned by the students.
Pence responded by saying no one should feel mistreated for who they are or what they believe.
This is a developing story.
Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at [email protected]. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: MTSU Constitution Day: Former VP Mike Pence defends Biden 2020 victory
Source Agencies
