GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Officials in a Florida city say a speaking event featuring white nationalist Richard Spencer at the University of Florida last fall will cost taxpayers at least $224,000.
The Gainesville Sun reports Gainesville city commissioners decided Thursday not to send the university a bill for costs. Alachua County officials sent the university a $302,000 bill earlier this month for its costs connected to the event.
The university previously estimated it would spend $600,000 on security at the October event to ensure no repeat of violent clashes connected to a white nationalist gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left one dead in August.
Thousands of protesters ended up drowning out Spencer with chanting, and he ended his Florida speech early.
Florida’s governor had declared a state of emergency for the event.
Well, if this doesn’t wake up all those Jewish Bubbies and Zeidies that retired long ago to that “stand your ground” shithole, and that find themselves voting for all those rabid rightwing Republican candidates these days, and now having to pay for little goober nazis and white redneck supremacists, I don’t know what will. It sure is a long way from being that FDR Democrat of old, that’s for sure.
Sorry, folks. I’ve reached my fill for today and its only around 10 AM…
Btw, is Zinke and this little nazi, friends? Seems like a strange coincidence that they’re both from Whitefish, Montana, doesn’t it?
Every time I think Spencer ought to get the bill for this (and I still kinda think he should) I remember that if that happens, the next time an environmental or anti-racist or LGBTQ activist gives a talk somewhere, the altholes will come out in force and the costs may be the same.
(I think the difference is that Spencer is part of the violent group that makes the security necessary, but that’s hard to prove.)
great use of Floridians tax money, especially during a hurricane recovery
I’m all for free speech, even that which upsets others (and the others free speech to respond), but $600k for a marginal speaker (at best)? Gotta be some common sense somewhere, this asshole really doesn’t have anything of value to say that he can’t screech from a street corner or on a daily stormer comments page
What qualifications does Spencer have to speak at university? Does he hold advanced degrees in a specialized field and does he have numerous academic peer-reviewed publications?
It seems to me, now that we have an actual record of costs, that he should be welcome to any public venue, provided he puts up a substantial bond and pays the security costs out of the event’s proceeds.
You know, the way presidential campaigns, up 'til Spankee’s, reimbursed local law enforcement for the costs of their visits.
ETA: Free speech means you’re able to say it, not have others pay for it.