The University of Florida has secured Oct. 19 for a speaking event featuring white nationalist Richard Spencer.
- UF confirms speaking event with white nationalist Richard Spencer
- University previously denied request for event on Sept. 12
- Request denied due to violence in Charlottesville on Aug. 12
The university previously denied a request from the National Policy Institute to hold a speaking event on Sept. 12 featuring Spencer.
The request was denied in light of the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday, August 12. UF President W. Kent Fuchs said at the time "the First Amendment does not require a public institution to risk imminent violence to students and others."
Spencer, who helped propagate the term "alt-right," is leader of the National Policy Institute, a lobbying organization for white supremacists that says it's dedicated to the "heritage, identity and future of people of European descent."
The school is charging the allowable costs of $10,564 for rent and security.
The university has stated that it will not be affiliated with the event in any way, but as a public institution, UF is legally obligated to allow the expression of many viewpoints by external groups, such as Spencer's National Policy Institute.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.