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| Richard Spencer's first major speech since Charlottesville drowned out by chanting protesters | Richard Spencer's first major speech since Charlottesville drowned out by chanting protesters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Protesters at the University of Florida have drowned out white supremacist Richard Spencer's first major speech since the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. | Protesters at the University of Florida have drowned out white supremacist Richard Spencer's first major speech since the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. |
| As Mr Spencer took the stage, most of the half-filled Phillips Centre theatre stood and chanted: "F*** you Spencer!" Many raised their fists in a Black Power salute. | As Mr Spencer took the stage, most of the half-filled Phillips Centre theatre stood and chanted: "F*** you Spencer!" Many raised their fists in a Black Power salute. |
| Mr Spencer started by welcoming the crowd to "the most important free speech event of [their] lifetime". He also thanked university President Kent Fuchs for allowing him to speak on campus. | Mr Spencer started by welcoming the crowd to "the most important free speech event of [their] lifetime". He also thanked university President Kent Fuchs for allowing him to speak on campus. |
| "For the record, I don't stand behind racist Richard Spencer," Mr Fuchs quickly responded on Twitter. "I stand with those who reject and condemn Spencer’s vile and despicable message." | "For the record, I don't stand behind racist Richard Spencer," Mr Fuchs quickly responded on Twitter. "I stand with those who reject and condemn Spencer’s vile and despicable message." |
| The university had attempted to bar Mr Spencer from speaking on campus, but relented when he threatened to sure for an infringement of free speech. | The university had attempted to bar Mr Spencer from speaking on campus, but relented when he threatened to sure for an infringement of free speech. |
| Hundreds of protesters gathered outside to oppose the speech, carrying signs reading "No Nazis UF" and "Resist Fascism". More than 3,000 people had RSVPed on Facebook to an anti-Spencer protest scheduled for that day. | |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott had also declared a state of emergency, putting the Florida National Guard on standby and allowing the county Sheriff to call on specialised security forces from across the state. | |
| "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," he said in a statement. | |
| It was unclear what Mr Spencer intended to discuss in his speech, as he spent the majority of his address shouting down the protesters in the crowd. | It was unclear what Mr Spencer intended to discuss in his speech, as he spent the majority of his address shouting down the protesters in the crowd. |
| “Do you not want to hear something, poor little babies, that might contradict something your professor told you?" he asked. "Might you have to think about something, child?” | “Do you not want to hear something, poor little babies, that might contradict something your professor told you?" he asked. "Might you have to think about something, child?” |
| The crowd alternated between different chants, from "Go home Spencer!" to "Let's go Gators!" – a reference to the school's mascot. The first two rows of audience members, and a scattered few throughout the crowd, cheered Mr Spencer on. | The crowd alternated between different chants, from "Go home Spencer!" to "Let's go Gators!" – a reference to the school's mascot. The first two rows of audience members, and a scattered few throughout the crowd, cheered Mr Spencer on. |
| One of the most tense moments came when Mr Spencer discussed the rally in Charlottesville, in which one counter-protester was killed when a car drove into her. Mr Spencer insisted that the facts of the young woman's death were not yet clear, but the crowd had already erupted in chants. | |
| "It's your fault!" they called. | |
| Eventually, Mr Spencer decided to turn to a question and answer session. | Eventually, Mr Spencer decided to turn to a question and answer session. |
| The first questioner took the microphone and asked: "Why do you think you’re welcome here, when it literally took a court order to get you here?" | The first questioner took the microphone and asked: "Why do you think you’re welcome here, when it literally took a court order to get you here?" |
| "We have a tremendous amount of support–" Mr Spencer said before being drowned out by boos. | "We have a tremendous amount of support–" Mr Spencer said before being drowned out by boos. |