On Thursday, October 19th, the students at the University of Florida stood together, on a turbulent day in Gainesville. Richard Spencer, the white nationalist who had led the violent “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia only months before, had chosen UF as his next victim.

Being a public university who has always allowed groups to speak freely on campus, the University of Florida was unable to deny Spencer his freedom to speak at the University.

UF President, Kent Fuchs, made it clear that he strongly disagreed with Spencer’s views, and spent around $500,000 towards security for the event. On Monday, October 16th, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency, just days before hurricane Spencer touched down in Gainesville.

“... our good friend, and spokesperson for white people everywhere,” is how he is introduced, and no, it does not get better from there. Immediately, the room erupts. The vast majority of the audience shot to their feet at the sound of Richard Spencer’s voice, raising a fist in support of the black lives matter movement, and making it clear that he was not, and never would be welcomed. Spencer, clearly in a state of frustration, and for some strange reason, perplexity begins to yell at the audience as the incompetent tormenter that he is, screaming that “we (the white nationalist party) are stronger than you and you all know it!”

This shocking revelation, backed up with such hard-hitting evidence, makes it impossible for anyone to do anything but support Spencer!

He then continues to attempt to demean the audience, calling them babies who are afraid to think in a condescending tone, because, yet again, this is such an effective and professional way to address a crowd. The audience uses their right of free speech, to display their beliefs that his murdering of equality, is insane and should not be spread.

However, Spencer continues to yell at the audience, shouting arguments that don’t only lack an actual explanation but also use intimidation instead of any evidence of his ideas.

Spencer then opens up the event to questions, which, for actual intellectuals, would encourage a discussion of sharing ideas. Stumbling on his words, Spencer manages to avoid every single question he is asked.

When a UF alumni stood up amongst the chaos and attempted to question whether or not he takes any responsibility for the violent actions of his followers, he interrupts her calm tone several times.

Finally, Spencer responds by completely turning the question back around, saying he is trying to promote peace, but somehow it is the audience’s fault that there is violence in rallies such as Charlottesville. If this sounds confusing to you… that’s because it is. Spencer is defensive throughout the entirety of the Q&A, and rather than clearly stating his claims, he chose to avoid questions, and attack the questioners.

I could write about this topic for the rest of my life, and I think it’s important that this is talked about for far past my lifetime. The full speech will leave you astonished, up until the very last moment when Spencer is essentially boo-ed off of the stage. From responding to a claim that he is similar to Hitler with a timid “that’s not true” to yelling “woo sports ball,”

I would like to sum up this entire event by calling out Richard Spencer for what he is; a psychotic, senseless, coward of a man, who is too afraid to have a real discussion. Violence starts with the words of the disturbed.

Contrary to Spencer’s claim, he is attempting to spread those words of hate, which we, as Americans, have every right to discourage, as the powerful and just students of the University of Florida did on October 19th.