Thread by @mareevs

I’m outside the @UF auditorium where @DonaldJTrumpJr will speak at 7 p.m. Not a lot going on yet, but people are starting to show up. There are #Trump T-shirt’s and MAGA hats. @TB_Times

Looks like @GainesvillePD is helping @UFPublicSafety with security. The university hasn’t answered my questions about how many police officers will be present. But UF is paying the bill, per the contract with @DonaldJTrumpJr.

These guys have @realDonaldTrump flags. So far, it looks like there are more supporters than protestors.

Just spotted a poster board with “NO COLLUSION” written on it. There’s another with a giant photo of @realDonaldTrump’a face. The guy holding it has on a shirt that says “Rush @GOP”

Here’s a photo

Lots of groups are here asking people if they’re registered to vote, including @AMarch4OurLives. They’re planning a silent “live graveyard” demonstration where members will hold up photos of victims of gun violence.

The giant photo of @realDonaldTrump accompanied by “no collusion” was made by @UFCR. That group says this isn’t a Trump campaign stop and that @DonaldJTrumpJr won’t talk politics. .... Doesn’t seem to add up with the sign

Talked to some protesters who are gathering in Turlington Plaza, across from the venue where @DonaldJTrumpJr will speak. @UF freshman Mackenzie Plant, 18, says she is “anti pretty much everything the Trumps stand for.”

“They spread a lot of hate,” she said. “If we (students) don’t support them, why should we pay for it?” (She is referencing the fact that student activity fees were used to pay @DonaldJTrumpJr $50k to visit @UF.

Here is Platt, right, with her friend Janine Hall. Their sign bears a quote by MLK Jr. on one side and “fascism has no home here” on the other

Next, I talked to Raemi Eagle-Glenn, 40, who works with the @GOP in Alachua County/Gainesville. “These are very divided times and we just need to come out and face it,” she says.

“No KKK, no fascist USA, no Trump”

Chants and a giant march have started. The group is circling the University Auditorium, where @DonaldJTrumpJr will speak at 7 pm.

Just after protesters passed, a group from @UFCR posed for a photo and exclaimed in unison: “Keep America great”

Just made it inside the lobby of the auditorium. Here’s a look through the back doors. One sign says: “ur dad sucks,” referencing @DonaldJTrumpJr

Student government @accentspeakers watch as protesters dance, chant and circle the building

Lots of boos happening. Hearing it’s because @ufstudentgov president Michael Murphy just walked by

Seems like people are being let inside. Meanwhile, chants continue outside, where @AMarch4OurLives is holding a silent demonstration

There’s a bomb dog here, plus what appear to be sniper shooters on the roof of Turlington Hall, which is across from the speaking venue

In yet another attempt to get answers about how this event came to be, I asked a group of @accentspeakers students standing in the lobby for an interview. They directed me to Chairman @FairHenry, who has ignored my questions for 2 days

I told them that and one replied: “If he said no, then that’s the answer.”

So that’s that. @UF student government has officially declined to answer questions about their $50k expense bringing @DonaldJTrumpJr to campus. @TB_Times

Hearing @DonaldJTrumpJr and @kimguilfoyle will talk for ~45 minutes, then there will be 15 minutes of Q+A with the audience. There’s a twist, though ...

All questions will be submitted to the speakers via twitter, per an announcement. Unsure whether it will be through tweets or DMs, but I’m told we will learn specifics soon. Either way, the speakers themselves will choose which questions they do and do not answer

For the third time, a pre-recorded announcement is playing to “remind the audience of expectations.” It asks attendees to “exemplify the Gator spirit and allow the speakers to speak without incident.”

There are lots of rules for media: Can’t stand up, can’t photograph after the first 5 minutes, can’t get an interview with @accentspeakers — all on a public university campus.

People are chanting “USA USA USA” but it’s totally unclear why. We are now 12 minutes past scheduled start time.

A @UF student journalist next to me is on the phone with her investigative reporting professor asking about the Sunshine Law. “They’re saying we can’t record, but we’re in a public space.” (Someone give this girl a job! She’s asking the right questions!)

I found @FairHenry !!!!!!

@kimguilfoyle is speaking now. She started with “Go Gators baby.” Then comments on her own eyeglasses: “Who likes the glasses? Hot for teacher, anybody?” @TB_Times

She has been screaming — literally screaming — the entire time. She also just brought up @realDonaldTrump, which is weird since @accentspeakers says this isn’t a campaign event

Now @DonaldJTrumpJr is on stage. @kimguilfoyle welcomed him with a kiss and: “God bless the Trump family. God bless president @DonaldJTrumpJr”

Someone just yelled from the audience: “You are terrible.”

The first thing @DonaldJTrumpJr said to the crowd was “she kissed me. I don’t want to get #MeTooed on a college campus.” I guess it was a joke to him, but not to a lot of people here.

Event is over and people are pouring out of the University Auditorium to see this outside @TB_Times

@DonaldJTrumpJr and @kimguilfoyle leave with a motorcade as protesters boo and chant “shame on you.” Now they’re saying: “We want our money back,” referencing the $50k in student fees the speakers were paid with.