Weeks after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on Florida, the Sunshine State is preparing for another potentially calamitous convergence, but this time in human form.
White Nationalist Richard Spencer is set to speak at the University of Florida in Gainesville today, and both the Governor of Florida Rick Scott (R) and the President of the University of Florida W. Kent Fuchs are on high-alert.
On Monday, October 16th, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency for all of Alachua County, where the university is located. Likewise, the University of Florida will be shelling out about half a million dollars to pay for additional security to keep order on campus.
Furthermore, SwimSwam has learned that Indiana University has sent an officer from IUPD to escort its student-athletes traveling to the University of Florida this weekend for the upcoming triangular between Florida, Texas, and Indiana. The IUPD officer is communicating with local law enforcement “to provide security and ensure we are taking every necessary precaution,” per the Indiana spokesperson. SwimSwam reached out to the University of Texas as well but has not received a response.
Although Fuchs has urged students not to attend Spencer’s speech, and “do not provide Mr. Spencer and his followers the spotlight they are seeking,” there is a Facebook event titled “No Nazis at UF — Protest Richard Spencer” scheduled for today at the university’s performing arts center with 3,000 people marked as going and another 7,800 who have expressed interest in attending. According to Facebook, the purpose of the protest is “de-escalation,” but Spencer’s rhetoric and proven ability to energize his supporters and antagonize his detractors make the situation precarious.
Though formerly denied, Spencer was given permission to speak because of the University of Florida’s status as a state university. A statement from the University’s administration reads “UF must allow the free expression of speech. We cannot prohibit groups or individuals from speaking in our public forums except for limited exceptions, which include safety and security.”
Spencer, purportedly an advocate of “free speech,” promotes a false narrative of American history and manifest destiny: That the United States was founded for and ought to return to a European-centric all-white “ethnostate.” Spencer’s organization, the National Policy Institute, says it is “dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world.” Though Spencer’s opinions curry excitement in the margins of American society, his rallies have consistently gained national attention due to the frequently violent protests and counter-protests that follow the white-hot “activist” from city to city and campus to campus.
Isn’t a swim site…..if I want politics I’ll watch the news. Bad article
It’s to dangerous for kids to be around events like this. They couldn’t have moved the meet to a nearby pool off campus?
The meet started today at 11:00 am…that speaking event was yesterday. It’s all clear now. ?
My bad… thought it was same day
Always trouble when the facists (Nazi white supremists) meet up with the communists (antifa). Be safe
My personal view: By not protesting, by not showing up, we starve people like Richard Spencer of the oxygen they thrive on. Do you think the media would cover him if there wasn’t anybody stood outside protesting; which inevitable boils over into violence? Probably not.
Protesting his events won’t stop him getting invitations, nor will it stop him arranging supremacist marches; But it will act as oxygen to a flame. Deprive him of attention and he’ll eventually die off and retreat back under his pre-Trump rock one day.
I’d like to agree with you on this, but if one studies the White Nationalist movement through the 90’s coupled with the pre-Trump reemergence of the movement history suggests otherwise. Unfortunately, a lot of these folks when left alone, organize in ways which directly impact the lives of people around them in negative ways (though legal). What we’re seeing now is actually the result of what has happened over the last 7-10 years of people hoping that by not acknowledging they will die off…
Soooooo, Spencer was gone after hours on campus, why the extra security now?
If the meet started today, I am sure that Indiana did not show up today. I would bet they were in the area and on campus yesterday, probably doing a “shake out” swim or loosen up swim after a long bus or plane ride….
Anyhow that pic on top – kinda White .Maybe the coloured folk are at the back . Maybe there are only one or two . So really this whole thread is ironic but an enjoyable read . Carry on .
Right, because as a white person of European decent, I am not allowed to stand up for the rights of other human beings….(sarcasm)
Spencer will likely just end up speaking to the same 30-40 losers who seem to travel the country following him like lost sheep. Its a shame the national media gives them any publicity. As someone did when they came to Charlottesville, someone should take their pictures, post them on Twitter and promote a national shaming campaign to identify each one and where they live, who they work for, etc. Yes there is a right to free speech, but if you preach hate and bigotry, the rest of society has an equal right of association (or non-association in their case) and they should have to live with the consequences of being exposed – with the internet, there is no more “hiding… Read more »
exactly! Free speech doesn’t mean free of consequences
Spencer’s speech is intriguing to me. I am curious as to how he justifies or fails to justify his positions. I would love to listen to him and then hear his opponents – their arguments and how they address his points. Should I be shamed because I am there? I know that free speech means the ability to speak ideas into the private or public square. The heckler’s veto infringes that right – but I want to see what, if any, rational arguments those hecklers might have other than ad hominems. Should my face be plastered everywhere as one who merely listened to Mr. Spencer?
He’s written extensively about his positions, as have those opposed to him. It’s not hard to find that information. If this were a panel then your question would make sense. This was a soapbox. One doesn’t go to a stump speech to find out about ideas and engage in debate, it’s a pep-rally. You don’t go to a pep rally for the cross town team to find out what that team believes…
Honestly guys it’s getting difficult to keep up with the dramas .
On the sport side Mackayla Maroney has belatedly put her hand up for another sexually abused American top gymnast with the added scarey info of sleeping pills & a nighty nite visit by the team doctor . So thats the 2008 team & the 2012 yeam the 2000 team , no reason to think the 2004 & 2016 girls were unmolested .
I don’t care about Hollywood actresses , except for minors , but these girls competed under the US flag & you betrayed them all . Forget about Richard Spenser , fix your pedophikes in sport problem .
Terrible situation, but are you really saying you don’t mind if adult women are abused and that we shouldn’t pay attention to racism because there are other bad things in the world?
I think the US is devolving . The only question is to what .
Yep. Terrible to watch from the outside.
That’s a pedophiles in medicine problem. I doubt he restricted his activities to gymnasts only.
He didn’t he had a video of him molesting people at a local pool and was found with tons of explicit videos and photos of children