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Richard Spencer and Antifa’s Viewpoints are Both Morally Repugnant

October 17, 2017 - 8:15am

With Richard Spencer coming to Gainesville later this week to speak at the University of Florida, U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., who represents Alachua County in Congress, weighed in on Monday. Yoho said the following:

Richard Spencer, president of a hate group misleadingly named the National Policy Institute, is coming to Gainesville, FL to speak about his support of ethnic nationalism, racial division and white supremacy on October 19, 2017.  Antifa, a so-called “anti-fascist” group comprised of radical Marxists and anarchists, is calling on its supporters to come and protest Richard Spencer, advocating violence and chaos in the process. 

In our constitutional republic, both sides have a right-and what I feel is a privilege-to espouse their views as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution.  The First Amendment gives individuals the right of free speech, peaceful assembly and protest to promote one's views.  People must be serious about exercising these rights respectfully.  You cannot have freedom without responsibility.

Hate groups and groups that promote violence and anarchy have no place in our society.  They simply have a self-serving agenda and feed off mob-like participation and divisiveness.

When Richard Spencer comes to Gainesville, I want to ask that all people of differing viewpoints take responsibility for themselves and the groups they have invited to attend the event.  It is estimated that this event will cost the University of Florida hundreds of thousands of dollars and Alachua County will have to mobilize hundreds of law enforcement officers, EMT's, firefighters and paramedics at a cost not yet determined but paid for by the taxpayers of the county. 

While these groups exercise their right of free speech and to peaceably assemble, I hope they will have respect for each other's rights to express their own points of view, and that all will agree to disagree peacefully.  Let's hope they keep in mind the many first responders that are taking time away from their families and at great cost to Alachua County taxpayers for the protection of all parties.  Let's hope these groups take responsibility for their members and that there is no violent behavior. However, if people do engage in violence, I will press state and federal prosecutors to bring charges against malefactors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

As for me, I refuse to be anywhere near this event because Richard Spencer and Antifa’s viewpoints are both morally repugnant. I choose not to offer either of them an audience.  Please join me.

U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., was first elected to Congress in 2012. 

 


READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS

Scott Declares State of Emergency Before Richard Spencer's Visit to UF

Marco Rubio Urges UF Students to Skip Richard Spencer's White Nationalist Speech

Comments

They are repugnant....But to repress the ability to present an point of view is more repugnant. If elected authorities can suppress speech on this one distasteful issue.....won't that be a precedent for the next point of view elected authorities find distasteful or the mobs of "Free- Thinkers" choose to bash?

Without doubt, ANTIFA and OFA trump Spencer, and are far more dangerous to our Republic. The negative catalysts in all of these instances are the University Administration members themselves.

Why are the Alachua county tax payers responsible for the cost of all first responders at this event? Why isn't the University of Florida having to pay since they have allowed the event to take place?

Antifa is anti-fascists. If you're anti-Antifa, you're pro fascists.

And people are pro-life so if you are anti-pro-life then you are pro-murder. And people who are Black Lives Matter then believe no other life matters Or how about if you are no Conservative then you are unstable Or if you are not Progressive you are regressive. This is called a logical fallacy and I can be Anti-KKK and Anti-Antifa at the same time it comes with being Anti-Moron.

This is not a fair summary of what Antifa is or what it stands for. The primary goal is to stop neo-Nazis and white supremacists from gaining a platform, and not to promote a specific antifa agenda. The antifa groups are anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobia. It is fair to say that most of the members are also leftist and anti-capitalist, but to say that they are "radical Marxists" is absolutely false. They are not protesting Spencer because he is a capitalist, they are protesting him because he is a white supremacist, and because his supporters carry Nazi flags to his speeches. The rise of fascism in the 1930s demonstrated that it was a mistake to allow hate groups to air their views in hopes that public opinion would control them. Violence is an unfortunate consequence of standing up to Nazis, but when Nazis openly march through your neighborhood carrying torches and threatening to murder minorities, it would be a mistake to simply let them pass through unchallenged. Treating them like they have a valid point of view only emboldens them. I agree that violence is a poor response. Spencer and his friends intentionally incite violence, in hopes that they can play the "victim" card, and whip up the anger of their supporters into a full-scale race war. Congressman Yoho should be taking the lead in offering responses other than violence or acquiescence. Just because the state owes individuals the right of free speech does not mean we owe them a platform. When a racist organization speaks on a college campus, they should not be allowed to control who gets tickets. By preventing protesters from getting tickets, the University is indirectly endorsing Spencer's views. In addition, the University does not owe Spencer free police protection. Spencer and his organization should receive invoices for all the security provided, including the cost of mobilizing the National Guard. Until those invoices are paid, he should not be allowed to speak in any public venue.

The issue is that as a whole for a free society to work, we can't pick and choose who gets a platform based on our own petty desires. Wehn a racist organization speaks on campus, they sure as heck can control who gets tickets as a private organization and the first amendment right of assembly. By forcing people to pay for police protection for our unalienable rights not to be assaulted or molested then you have created the heckler's veto and I should then be able to harm anyone who disagrees with me unless they have (X amount of wealth) for their points of view. When the Antifa go after other racial groups for racism then we can talk about an accurate portrayal. But right now it is spot on because Antifa does not in their current incarnation represent a positive force for society. They remind me of an Anti-Immune disease attacking the host.

Dave Any definition of Fascism contains in part the following: "forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism". Do you see how you are actually hypocritically advocating for Fascism and the forcible suppression by violence of any opposition or Criticism? The First amendment Contains "freedom of speech... the right of the people peaceably to assemble". I recently witnessed a beautiful Example of this by some brave fellow citizens. One group was peaceably assembled at a Trump rally, when another group from Black lives matter joined the assembly peaceably in opposition. The Brave leader of the rally invited the leader of the BLM assembly to join him on stage and speak to the crowd. The Brave leader of BLM with free speech presented his views to the audience. Some of which they agreed with and others they dissented . Afterwards both sides were communicating with one another and listening to each others view points.

This guy is just a hateful idiot. If people would just IGNORE him, he wouldn't have his little day of glee. Please IGNORE this guy!! Don't give him the attention he craves!!

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