Richard Spencer Leaves University Of Florida, Protesters Punch Man With Swastikas On Shirt (Watch)

GAINESVILLE, FL — White nationalist Richard Spencer finished his speech at the University of Florida on Thursday as hundreds of people protested him and his ideas, holding signs and shouting anti-Nazi chants. Spencer was met with chants of "Black Lives Matter," "It's your fault," — referring to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia — and "Go home Spencer."

Hundreds of police officers stood outside the UF Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in case violence broke out. Other anti-Spencer protesters shouted, "Not in our town! Not in our state! We don't want your Nazi hate!" At least one man donning a white T-shirt covered in swastikas was punched in the face as a group of demonstrators surrounded him and screamed at him to get out.

Warning: Graphic language and content.

Protesters are punching, spitting at this man who has swastikas on his shirt. #spenceratUF pic.twitter.com/SuK0xFfixY
— Michael Williams (@michaeldamianw) October 19, 2017

Tensions continuing to spike. Protesters are confronting a self-proclaimed Nazi while clergy is trying to keep the peace. #spenceratUF pic.twitter.com/SmTpgmSSvq
— Michael Williams (@michaeldamianw) October 19, 2017

Related: Who Is Richard Spencer? 5 Things To Know About The 'Alt-Right' Leader

Many students stayed home on Thursday, university spokesman Steve Orlando told Patch. Orlando knew of one arrest of a private security contractor, who was apparently hired by a Jacksonville TV station, he said. The contractor was arrested for allegedly trying to bring a weapon onto the campus, which is not permitted.

Orlando estimated fewer than 100 people were in the audience when Spencer spoke. Janine Sikes, assistant vice president of public affairs, added that she believes 490 tickets were distributed in advance of the event. The venue holds 1,750 people.

"It was a very strange and seemingly disorganized event, and it was hard to know exactly what to think about it," Orlando said. He said there were more police officers on campus than for any other event that he can remember.

"I told students if they didn't feel safe being on campus it was up to them" whether to attend classes Thursday, he explained. "We're just hopeful that this continues to be a peaceful event and we can all look back on this as a success — and a success would be a peaceful event."

Spencer left the campus immediately following his speech.

The school estimated it would spend $600,000 on security to prevent violent clashes. UF cited the Charlottesville violence in rejecting an initial request from Spencer to speak at the university but later relented on free speech grounds. Spencer defended the costs to the university and blamed the governor of Virginia and the mayor of Charlottesville for creating the "chaos" between white nationalists and counter-protesters in August. Three people were killed in events related to the "Unite the Right" rally, including a counter protester and two Virginia State Police troopers.

"I am bringing ideas that are not being taught in this stifling PC academic environment," Spencer told reporters ahead of his speech. He wouldn't say how much his group has raised since the violent clashes in Charlottesville but was critical of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer's handling of the situation.

"They did the opposite of their job. They didn't maintain law and order, and they actually inspired chaos," Spencer insisted. "We went there to speak, and we were prevented from speaking by a terrible mayor."

Crowd chants “it’s your fault” for death in Charlottesville. Spencer’s answer “What? Are they going to take me to moral prison?”
— Meryl Kornfield (@MerylKornfield) October 19, 2017

University of Florida President W. Kent Fuchs tweeted that he supported those who oppose Spencer's "vile and despicable message."

For the record, I don't stand behind racist Richard Spencer. I stand with those who reject and condemn Spencer’s vile and despicable message https://t.co/eHFuUUchbh
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) October 19, 2017

Spencer also called out NBC's Florida-based correspondent, Kerry Sanders, for his coverage of the University of Florida speech and demanded a retraction, saying that he welcomed people with different opinions from his own, contrary to what Sanders reported. He said that the security for Thursday's event was needed to combat groups such as Antifa, short for anti fascists, which he labeled a "violent terrorist group."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed an executive order pledging state assistance to quell any potential incidents that break out around Spencer's speech in the Sunshine State. Spencer is considered a leader in the controversial "alt-right" movement that mixes racism, white nationalism and populism. The speech took place at the university's Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Previous speeches in Alabama, California, Texas and Virginia have drawn protests and counter-protests, arrests and violence.

“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 in a statement earlier this week.

Watch: Florida Governor Declares Emergency Over White Supremacist Event

The executive order activated Florida's mutual aid pack that allows the state to coordinate resources from the state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies. Read the executive order here.

Scott has said he planned to remain in "constant communication" with state and local law enforcement and university leadership to ensure that every request to the state is quickly granted in the interest of public safety.

Spencer's National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank, has drawn regular protests since it moved to Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., following President Trump's election.

A graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Spencer led a protest in May against that college town's decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, the same statue that was at the heart of violent protests as white nationalists took to the streets of Charlottesville to protest its removal.

You can watch more on the protests below or on Periscope.

Warning: Graphic language and scenes.

People are protesting outside the venue at @UF where white supremacist Richard Spencer is speaking https://t.co/tc0Q3OvwTN
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 19, 2017

Patch editor Emily Leamon and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Richard Spencer, a leader in the "alt-right" that mixes racism, white nationalism and populism. Image by David J. Phillip/Associated Press