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| Florida university braces for speech by white nationalist | Florida university braces for speech by white nationalist |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of police are flooding a Florida campus as a white nationalist is due to speak soon at an event that has provoked a state of emergency. | |
| The University of Florida says it was obligated under law to allow the event and no one invited Richard Spencer. | The University of Florida says it was obligated under law to allow the event and no one invited Richard Spencer. |
| About 3,000 people have signed up on a Facebook page to attend a protest rally called "No Nazis at UF". | About 3,000 people have signed up on a Facebook page to attend a protest rally called "No Nazis at UF". |
| It comes two months after a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, led to deadly clashes. | It comes two months after a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, led to deadly clashes. |
| Mr Spencer's organisation, the National Policy Institute, said it would vet reporters it will allow inside to cover the speech. | |
| Critics have lamented that the college, which reluctantly approved the event in order to protect Mr Spencer's free speech rights, permitted him to choose which journalists are allowed to cover it. | |
| Before Thursday's speech at the in campus, Mr Spencer addressed media to thank the university's president Kent Fuchs for allowing him to speak. | |
| "This is the free speech issue of our day," said Mr Spencer, according to the Miami Herald. | |
| "And I'm very happy that President Fuchs has stood behind us and allowed this to go through." | |
| The newspaper also reported that two Democratic state legislators filed bills on Thursday to remove all remaining Confederate monuments from the state's public spaces. | |
| Mr Fuchs tweeted: "I don't stand behind racist Richard Spencer". | |
| Demonstrators planned to gather outside the performing arts centre where Mr Spencer is scheduled to speak soon. | |
| According to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish anti-bigotry group, flash mobs are being encouraged by the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website, at minority and Jewish institutions during the speech. | According to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish anti-bigotry group, flash mobs are being encouraged by the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website, at minority and Jewish institutions during the speech. |
| The college said it would have to spend more than $500,000 (£380,000) on security. | The college said it would have to spend more than $500,000 (£380,000) on security. |
| Protesters have unfurled a sign on campus proclaiming "Love, not hate" and have drawn chalk designs on the pavement promoting inclusiveness and diversity. | Protesters have unfurled a sign on campus proclaiming "Love, not hate" and have drawn chalk designs on the pavement promoting inclusiveness and diversity. |
| Meanwhile, former president George W Bush decried intolerance while addressing an event in New York. | Meanwhile, former president George W Bush decried intolerance while addressing an event in New York. |
| "Bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed," he said. | "Bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed," he said. |
| "Our identity as a nation," he continued, "unlike many other nations, is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood." | "Our identity as a nation," he continued, "unlike many other nations, is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood." |
| The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors US hate groups, said Mr Spencer is "a radical white separatist whose goal is the establishment of a white ethno-state in North America". | The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors US hate groups, said Mr Spencer is "a radical white separatist whose goal is the establishment of a white ethno-state in North America". |
| Mr Spencer has described this week's emergency declaration by the state governor as "flattering" but "most likely overkill", reports the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. | |
| The University of Florida Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Florida Highway Patrol have been deployed. | |
| Some classes close to the speech venue were being cancelled, the college said. | |
| Items such as umbrellas, water bottles, and backpacks were not permitted inside or nearby the event. | |
| The university president has urged students to snub the speech. | |
| "By shunning him and his followers we will block his attempt for further visibility," Mr Fuchs said in a statement. | "By shunning him and his followers we will block his attempt for further visibility," Mr Fuchs said in a statement. |
| The university's Black Student Union warned that demonstrators should be cautious. | The university's Black Student Union warned that demonstrators should be cautious. |
| "If you choose to protest, it is imperative that you utilise sound judgment with every action that you take and not be provoked to resort to violence," the club said in a statement. | "If you choose to protest, it is imperative that you utilise sound judgment with every action that you take and not be provoked to resort to violence," the club said in a statement. |
| University spokeswoman Janine Sikes said that the school cannot control who will be permitted to attend the white nationalist event. | University spokeswoman Janine Sikes said that the school cannot control who will be permitted to attend the white nationalist event. |
| More on race in America | More on race in America |