Lawsuit: University of Cincinnati charging 'unconstitutional' security fees for Richard Spencer speech

A new lawsuit has been filed against the University of Cincinnati, accusing the school of charging excessive security fees during the scheduled visit of white supremacist Richard Spencer.

The lawsuit filed in federal court on Monday accuses University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto of charging an "unconstitutional security fee" in order to rent the room for the speech. The lawsuit says that Pinto deliberately violated Cameron Padgett's right to free speech by charging the fee.

Padgett, a Georgia State University student, has organized a number of events for Spencer.

Spencer is scheduled to speak at the University of Cincinnati during the University's spring break in March in Zimmer Auditorium, a 400-seat lecture hall.

The lawsuit states that on Dec. 15, Padgett's legal team learned they would have to pay a $500 rental fee and $10,833 in security costs and fees.

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"The criterions used by UC to calculate the rental fees for events on its campus give unconstitutionally overly broad discretion to UC to assess security costs, and such is facially unconstitutional under the overbreadth doctrine," the lawsuit says.

According to previous Enquirer reporting, when Spencer spoke at the University of Florida in October, the university spent an estimated $500,000 on security.

In a statement released Tuesday, university spokesman Greg Vehr said Spencer must pay a rental and security fee, like other non-sponsored speakers.

"As a state institution, and as a matter of principle, we adhere to the foundational rights embedded in the First Amendment. This includes protecting the right to free speech. We have stood by this principle all along and will continue to do so," the statement said. "However, Spencer was not invited or sponsored by any member of the university community, and like other non-sponsored speakers, he must pay a fee to rent university space. This includes a security fee."

In October, university spokesman Greg Vehr told The Enquirer there were no estimated security costs. Vehr said UC will work with its legal team to review the complaint and respond in court.

"The fee assessed is a mere fraction of the costs we anticipate incurring as a result of this event, but we hold firm in our efforts to respect the principles of free speech while maintaining safety on campus," the statement said.

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Padgett's attorney Kyle Bristow, based in Michigan, said Padgett will seek a jury trial and injunctive relief in the form of a court order, which would require UC to drop "anything more than a reasonable rental fee" as well as $2 million in general and punitive damages.

"By charging event organizers fees based upon the reaction of the violent liberal mob, de facto censorship can and will result due to security costs being imposed which are often cost-prohibitive for such politically right-of-center events to occur," a statement from Bristow said.

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According to Bristow, Pagett has successfully sued Auburn University and is currently suing Michigan State University, Ohio State University, and Pennsylvania State University and has threatened to sue the University of Michigan.

Spencer spoke most recently at the University of Florida in October, where counter-protesters largely outnumbered Spencer's supporters.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the event.

The event took place largely without conflict until three Spencer supporters were arrested and charged with attempted homicide after shooting a gun into a crowd shortly after the event outside.