White nationalist Richard Spencer won’t be speaking at the University of Florida next month after all.
On Wednesday, the university announced it had denied Spencer’s request to speak at the state university, citing “serious concerns for safety” as part of the reason the university said “no” to Spencer coming on campus.
Spencer was scheduled to appear on UF’s campus next month. If his request had been approved, he would have had to pay the cost of the rental of the space and for security.
UF President Kent Fuchs said the decision was made after assessing potential risks with campus, community, state and federal law officials following the violent protest held in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend, which killed one person and left others seriously injured.
Fuchs said some had called for similar violence in Gainesville, decreeing: “The Next Battlefield is in Florida.”
“I find the racist rhetoric of Richard Spencer and white nationalism repugnant and counter to everything the university and this nation stands for,” Fuchs said. “That said, the University of Florida remains unwaveringly dedicated to free speech and the spirit of public discourse. However, the First Amendment does not require a public institution to risk imminent violence to students and others.”
The likelihood for injury and violence, Fuchs continued, was the reason the university had denied the group’s request.
Spencer is considered one of the leaders in the “alt-right” movement, which has been closely associated and considered responsible for the “Unite the Right” rally Saturday in Charlottesville. The group consists of white supremacists and Neo-Nazis.
Experts have said if the university wants to ban Spencer from speaking, it would also need to close off the venue to other speakers as well.
“It's very easy to say these are white supremacists, and we should stop them from speaking. But the First Amendment protects the most unpopular viewpoints that are being expressed. So you have to look at all the alternatives that are available … before you can, consistent with the First Amendment, stop that viewpoint from being expressed,” First Amendment attorney Tom Julin told the News Service of Florida. “That's the last thing you want to do.”
Spencer has yet to respond to the university’s rejection.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
