Arek Sarkissian

Naples (Fla.) Daily News

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency as hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the state gather at the University of Florida in advance of a Thursday event by white nationalist Richard B. Spencer.

Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell had asked Scott to declare the emergency as the university prepares for Spencer's visit. The governor's executive order places the state agency usually responsible for hurricanes at the front of the effort to preserve order during the event. It also places the Florida National Guard on standby.

Anti-fascist groups, known as Antifa, plan to protest the white nationalist event. Both sides have talked on social media about using violence.

"I find that the threat of a potential emergency is imminent and hereby declare a state of emergency in Alachua County," Scott wrote in an executive order he signed on Monday.

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Darnell's agency is equipped and trained as a specialized regional task force for the federal Department of Homeland Security. But uncertainty over the groups that may show up led her to request as many resources as possible.

"What was needed was the ability to reach out to some specialty teams," Darnell said. "We've never been able to predict the unknown and we just don't know what to expect."

Spencer said the emergency declaration was overkill and is a maneuver that should be reserved for a hurricane or an invasion. He worried Scott's order was meant to eventually cancel his event.

"If someone is coming to speak I feel like declaring the state of emergency is out of bounds," Spencer said. "I feel like this may be an excuse to cancel the event but I simply don't know.

"There's no good reason why the speech shouldn't take place," Spencer said.

Scott wrote in a statement about the declaration that freedom of speech is a right, but the government must also preserve the safety of its citizens.

“We live in a country where everyone has the right to voice their opinion, however, we have zero tolerance for violence, and public safety is always our number one priority," Scott 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.”

Spencer said he expected the 800-seat center to be full. Darnell said she did not have a crowd estimate for people who will fill parking lots around the Phillips Center.

University officials said the price tag for security at Spencer's event will be $500,000. Spencer's National Policy Institute paid the school $10,000 to rent the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. At least 500 law enforcement officers are expected to be on hand.

Scott's emergency declaration places the state Division of Emergency Management in control of all coordination efforts before and after the event. Safety measures will be headed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Spencer's appearance was made public earlier this month after the university reversed a decision that had canceled a similar event in September. Spencer is a leader of the alt-right, which organized an August rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned deadly.

Under threat of lawsuit, UF President Ken Fuchs said the First Amendment required the university to allow Spencer's event. He also asked students and staff to ignore it.

"The values of our university are not shared by Mr. Spencer, the National Policy Institute or his followers," Fuchs said in a video posted to the university president's Facebook page. "Our campuses are places where people of all races, origins and religions are welcomed and are treated with love."

Fuchs later added, "I urge everyone to stay away from the Phillips Center on Oct. 19."

Similar to a natural disaster like a hurricane, Scott's executive order allows public agencies to bypass laws that govern how they spend money. It also grants authority to any law enforcement officer who comes from outside Alachua County.