This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41683713
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Richard Spencer speech at Florida campus sparks mass protest | Richard Spencer speech at Florida campus sparks mass protest |
(35 minutes later) | |
Protesters chanting "Go home Nazis" have disrupted a white nationalist's speech at the University of Florida. | |
Richard Spencer's speech in Gainesville prompted Florida's governor to declare a state of emergency. | |
Outside the event, hundreds of police officers stood guard as hundreds of demonstrators shouted: "Go home, Spencer!" | |
His speech comes two months after a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left a woman dead. | |
"I'm not going home, I will stand here all day if I have to," Mr Spencer said, calling the crowd a mob and "shrieking and grunting morons". | "I'm not going home, I will stand here all day if I have to," Mr Spencer said, calling the crowd a mob and "shrieking and grunting morons". |
Audience members continued to heckle him, chanting "Nazis are not welcome here" and "Let's go, Gators!", a nod to the college's mascot. | Audience members continued to heckle him, chanting "Nazis are not welcome here" and "Let's go, Gators!", a nod to the college's mascot. |
The college said it did not want to let "vile" Mr Spencer speak, but was obligated under law to do so. | The college said it did not want to let "vile" Mr Spencer speak, but was obligated under law to do so. |
Before Thursday's speech at the campus performing arts center, Mr Spencer addressed media to thank university president Kent Fuchs for allowing him to speak, according to the Miami Herald. | Before Thursday's speech at the campus performing arts center, Mr Spencer addressed media to thank university president Kent Fuchs for allowing him to speak, according to the Miami Herald. |
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. | 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". | Mr Fuchs tweeted: "I don't stand behind racist Richard Spencer". |
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 while state and local police were deployed to campus. | The college said it would have to spend more than $500,000 (£380,000) on security while state and local police were deployed to campus. |
Mr Spencer's organisation, the National Policy Institute, is paying $10,000 to rent the facility. | Mr Spencer's organisation, the National Policy Institute, is paying $10,000 to rent the facility. |
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. |
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". | Mr Spencer has described this week's emergency declaration by the state governor as "flattering" but "most likely overkill". |
Mr Spencer, a figurehead of the racist alt-right movement, rose to prominence when he led chants of "Heil Trump" to a Nazi-saluting group in Washington after the president's election victory. | Mr Spencer, a figurehead of the racist alt-right movement, rose to prominence when he led chants of "Heil Trump" to a Nazi-saluting group in Washington after the president's election victory. |
He also helped to organise August's rally in Charlottesville, where he was the ringmaster of a large group of far-right activists chanting "Jews will not replace us" and "blood and soil" (a Nazi slogan). | He also helped to organise August's rally in Charlottesville, where he was the ringmaster of a large group of far-right activists chanting "Jews will not replace us" and "blood and soil" (a Nazi slogan). |
More on race in America | More on race in America |