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| Florida declares emergency before white nationalist speech | Florida declares emergency before white nationalist speech |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The governor of Florida has issued a state of emergency because a white nationalist is due to speak at a university campus this week. | The governor of Florida has issued a state of emergency because a white nationalist is due to speak at a university campus this week. |
| Richard Spencer - a figure in the racist "alt-right" movement - is due to speak at the University of Florida's Gainesville campus on Thursday. | Richard Spencer - a figure in the racist "alt-right" movement - is due to speak at the University of Florida's Gainesville campus on Thursday. |
| The order issued by Governor Rick Scott came after the county sheriff appealed to the state for security assistance. | The order issued by Governor Rick Scott came after the county sheriff appealed to the state for security assistance. |
| The governor's action activates the state's National Guard troops. | The governor's action activates the state's National Guard troops. |
| The university said it was not aware of any "specific heightened threat", but Mr Scott warned on Monday that a "threat of a potential emergency is imminent". | The university said it was not aware of any "specific heightened threat", but Mr Scott warned on Monday that a "threat of a potential emergency is imminent". |
| "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," Mr Scott said in a statement accompanying the state of emergency directive. | "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," Mr Scott said in a statement accompanying the state of emergency directive. |
| The University of Florida at first tried to prevent Mr Spencer from speaking on campus in August after an "alt-right" rally near the University of Virginia led to violent clashes and one death. | The University of Florida at first tried to prevent Mr Spencer from speaking on campus in August after an "alt-right" rally near the University of Virginia led to violent clashes and one death. |
| At that event in Charlottesville, which Mr Spencer helped organise, a large group of far-right activists chanted "Jews will not replace us" and "blood and soil" (a Nazi slogan). | At that event in Charlottesville, which Mr Spencer helped organise, a large group of far-right activists chanted "Jews will not replace us" and "blood and soil" (a Nazi slogan). |
| The University of Florida (UF) later reversed course and chose to allow Mr Spencer and his group - the National Policy Institute - to speak after hearing concerns about free speech. | The University of Florida (UF) later reversed course and chose to allow Mr Spencer and his group - the National Policy Institute - to speak after hearing concerns about free speech. |
| In announcing the climbdown, university president W Kent Fuchs complained in a letter to students that "UF is required by law to allow Mr Spencer to speak his racist views on our campus". | In announcing the climbdown, university president W Kent Fuchs complained in a letter to students that "UF is required by law to allow Mr Spencer to speak his racist views on our campus". |
| He added that the university is "not allowed by law to bill him for the full costs of keeping our campus safe, which exceed more than a half million dollars". | He added that the university is "not allowed by law to bill him for the full costs of keeping our campus safe, which exceed more than a half million dollars". |
| It will instead charge him only of $10,564 (£8,000) to rent the facility and for security within the venue. | |
| In an online Q&A of more than 30 questions, the university explained that due to a legal doctrine known as the "heckler's veto" they are unable to charge Mr Spencer's group for the enhanced security. | In an online Q&A of more than 30 questions, the university explained that due to a legal doctrine known as the "heckler's veto" they are unable to charge Mr Spencer's group for the enhanced security. |