Richard Spencer Image by Getty Images

By Sam Kestenbaum October 19, 2017

Richard Spencer, one of the country’s most prominent white nationalist, struggled to begin a much-hyped and controversial talk at the University of Florida amidst chants and boos from the crowd on Thursday afternoon.

“I am speaking to you reasonably and rationally,” he said amidst hand claps and chanting. “You are not speaking. You are screaming… attempting to bring a mob that is going to shut down free speech.”

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“Are you adults? Are you ready to think for yourself? It doesn’t look like it. You all look like immature preschoolers,” he said.

“Go home Spencer, go home,” the crowd, mostly standing at the back of the auditorium, chanted. Some thrust up their fists or gave Spencer the middle finger. “We won’t back down,” other chanted.

“You are trying to shut down the speech of a dissident intellectual,” Spencer said.

Veronika Vernachio, a reporter with WUFT News is streaming a video live from inside the Phillips Center where Spencer is speaking now.

Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum

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