Avowed white nationalist leader Richard Spencer may speak at UF on Oct. 19.
Although UF was persistent about denying Spencer’s initial request to speak on Sept. 12, the National Policy Institute made a request for another date and UF had to make a “good faith” effort to accommodate, according to a statement from UF. A contract has not been signed yet.
After the Spencer’s request to speak Sept. 12 was denied, with UF President Kent Fuchs citing safety as a main concern, the institute said they would take the issue to court. UF’s general counsel sent an email back saying they did not mean to permanently bar Spencer from campus.
UF will evaluate the safety risks and costs of Spencer speaking, according to the statement. They have been working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for the past month to evaluate, including the FBI.
In the statement, UF again denounced Spencer and his viewpoints.
“UF deplores Spencer’s and the National Policy Institute’s rhetoric and views, which run counter to those of this institution. We also acknowledge that many of our students, faculty and staff are disproportionately impacted by their racism,” the statement said.
Spencer would speak at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts if he came, UF spokesperson Janine Sikes wrote in an email. She said an estimate for cost has not been determined yet.
Andre Fonseca said he thinks Spencer should be banned altogether from speaking at UF. Fonseca, a 22-year-old UF political science junior, said he feels the university should stand up against Spencer’s appearance.
“Even though he says it’s peaceful and free speech, he’s using his platform to stir up hate toward others,” Fonseca said. “His speech has hate in it.”
Fonseca, who was born in Miami of Guatemalan parents, said he’s personally felt the ignorance and prejudice from people he knows who hold white nationalist views.
“They think everyone’s from Mexico and that we’re all fat and lazy,” Fonseca said. “That’s just not true.”
For Andrew Sowinski, 19, he feels the protection of free speech should be applied to all views, even with views he said he fundamentally disagrees with.
“The rules have to be set so that the opposite side has a voice — even when the other side is bats--- crazy,” the UF computer engineering freshman said.
Sowinski said if Spencer does in fact speak Oct. 19, he feels people would be better off not going rather than showing up to protest. Given that both the right and the left have extreme sides, he said, he fears mass protests doing more harm than good.
“It’d be a recipe for violence,” Sowinski said. “It’s just a matter of not going, not giving them the attention they’re looking for.”
Richard Spencer
