Florida Gov. Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Speech by White Nationalist at UF

White nationalist Richard Spencer speaks to select media in his office space in Alexandria, Virginia on Aug. 14, 2017. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Florida Governor Rick Scott issued a state of emergency on Oct. 16, ahead of a speech by white nationalist Richard Spencer at the University of Florida, citing violence at his previous speaking engagements.

Scott’s executive order noted that prior speeches by Spencer in Virginia, Alabama, California, and Texas, “have sparked protests and counter-protests resulting in episodes of violence, civil unrest, and multiple arrests.”