At Fla. university, protesters try to drown out white nationalist
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Students and other audience members heavily booed white nationalist Richard Spencer on Thursday as he gave a speech at the University of Florida, where the atmosphere was tense but mostly peaceful as police in riot gear kept watch.
“We represent a new white America,” said one speaker who came on stage to introduce Spencer.
“Black lives matter,” student protesters responded. “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!”
Later, Spencer’s supporters at the Performing Arts, chanted back: “You will not replace us!”
“Go home, Spencer!” protesters intoned after Spencer began speaking.
“You are trying to stifle our free speech,” Spencer said as the crowd continuously booed and chanted through his speech, in which he recited his ideas about the “ideal” of a white nation.
Spencer’s last major public appearance with other white nationalists ended with a deadly riot in Charlottesville, Va., in August.
Spencer gained national prominence in recent years for his support of President Donald Trump and for his views calling for a separate nation for white people. The apparent resurgence in white nationalism in the United States has sparked anti-supremacists to mobilize with their own efforts, including nonviolent demonstrations and sometimes violent attacks.
Spencer has turned his sights to public universities, where First Amendment protections of free speech limit officials’ ability to deny Spencer a platform. Officials at the Florida college have confirmed they’ve spent roughly $500,000 on security for the event.
One questioner who introduced himself as a son of immigrants told Spencer he was disappointed with the crowd’s protests, saying he wanted to engage in a dialogue.
Another introduced herself as a “beautiful brown woman” of Egyptian and Puerto Rican descent. She thanked Spencer for coming, and asked, “How did it feel to get punched in the face on camera?”
The student was referring to a viral video of Spencer being struck by an anti-fascist in Washington, D.C., on the day of Trump’s inauguration. Her question drew a cheer from the crowd.
“It hurt,” Spencer said. “Yeah, it hurts when someone punches you in the face. Is that a real question?”
Spencer thanked the crowd for coming and left campus shortly afterward.
Outside the venue, where hundreds of protesters gathered, small scuffles broke out when one man with swastikas on his shirt walked through the center of the crowd, seeming to relish the appalled reactions of protesters. He was escorted away after someone punched him in the face, according to reporters.