Protesters Outnumber Attendees at Richard Spencer's Florida Event

Hundreds of protesters greeted the white nationalist leader Richard Spencer at the University of Florida with chants of "It's Your Fault", blaming him for the violence at the Charlottesville rally, which left one person dead.

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After Charlottesville, Thousands To Rally Against Richard Spencer's Event in Florida

Defending his "right" to speak freely on issues of race and white nationalism, the 39-year-old organizer of the Charlottesville rally, told a news conference, "We are dealing with a violent…terrorist group known as Antifa..they explicitly talk about using violence to shut down speech." 

He went to the University to give his first speech since August's incident in Virginia.

The protests outside the venue in Gainesville were peaceful for the most part. Police and the protesters outnumbered those at the event, by as many as 30 to 1 according to Buzzfeed News.  

Mitch Emerson, one of the organizers of the "No Nazis at UF-Protest Richard Spencer" told the news agency, the demonstrators made "the message very clear that they are not welcome and there are more of us then them."

Spencer, the leader of the National Policy Institute, NPI, a Virginia-based think tank, had been invited to speak at the event alongside Eli Mosley, the leader of Identity Europa, and Mike Enoch, host of the alt-right podcast 'The Right Stuff.'  

In a bid to prevent clashes, Florida's governor, Rick Scott, announced a state of emergency in Alachua county on Monday.

"I find that the threat of a potential emergency is imminent," the governor said. "This executive order is an additional step to ensure that the University of Florida and the entire community is prepared so everyone can stay safe."

 Ahead of the event, the university president, W. Kent Fuchs, urged students and staff not to attend.

"[D]o not provide Mr. Spencer and his followers the spotlight they are seeking," he wrote. "By shunning him and his followers, we will block his attempt for further visibility.. Speak up for your values and the values of our university. Make it clear that messages of hate on our campus are contrary to those values."