UF braces for Spencer speaking engagement

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Richard Spencer may not be welcome by all, or even by many. Maybe not even few. 

But he will have rights when he fulfills a speaking engagement at the University of Florida.

"I believe in the First Amendment rights people have," said Gov. Rick Scott. "I do expect people to be safe."

He comes to UF as part of a nationwide speaking tour of college campuses.

At UF, Spencer plans a speech and press conference.

"There isn't somebody above us to tell us, you're right I'm wrong," said First Amendment attorney James McGure. "You get to speak, I don't."

McGuire says speech can only be silenced when the speaker is overtly threatening violence.

Spencer claims he's non-violent.

Thus, even though a woman was killed following a Spencer-led rally in Charlottesville, Spencer can't legally be denied space at a publicly owned facility, like Phillips hall at UF.

"A supporter of any political agenda could take violence into their hands an injure somebody, but the fact that that happens doesn't mean the speaker has to be silenced," said McGure.

Spencer will be greeted by an alphabet soup of law enforcement.

FDLE, FHP, FBI, GPD and other agencies will all have personnel on hand.

Protestors, followers, and media will be there too.

His group paid $11,000 to rent the hall, but won't have to reimburse the $500,000 taxpayers will spend on security.

The First Amendment prohibits UF from imposing costs typical speakers wouldn't face.

"If you tell Richard Spencer it's going to cost a half million to speak here if you think about it, you are effectively telling him, you can't speak here," said McGure.

Speech also protected Thursday will be speech against Spencer.

Protestors are allowed to curse and swear at him, as long as they don't make threats.

UF administrators want students to not give him any attention and stay away.

The Southern Poverty Law Center calls Richard Spencer's National Policy Institute a hate group.