White supremacist, “Alt-Right” leader to speak at UF

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Yesterday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that he had signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Alachua County due to the upcoming speech by Richard Spencer, a white supremacist who is one of the founders of the Alt-Right movement. Spencer is scheduled speak Thursday at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts at the University of Florida.

“We live in a country where everyone has the right to voice their opinion, however, we have zero tolerance for violence and public safety is always our number one priority,” Scott said. “This executive order is an additional step to ensure that the University of Florida and the entire community is prepared so everyone can stay safe.”

The executive order allows the state and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate resources from other state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies. It says that this is necessary because “prior speaking engagements involving Mr. Spencer at universities in Alabama, California, Texas, and Virginia have sparked protests and counter-protests resulting in episodes of violence, civil unrest, and multiple arrests.”

Last month, the Orlando Sentinel reported that “after violence erupted during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., UF rejected Spencer’s request to speak on its campus Sept. 12. However, facing a possible lawsuit, the university this month relented, setting a tentative date for Oct. 19.”

That original rejection also followed criticism by state Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. Rouson said UF should not let the event happened due to the threat to public safety.

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