Memorandum
- From
- Caroline Mercer via fox - Most Popular
- Date
- Filed
- Politics·4 min to read
- Re
Hasan Piker Event at UT Austin Draws Bipartisan Backlash
ReHasan Piker Event at UT Austin Draws Bipartisan Backlash
A planned University Democrats event featuring streamer Hasan Piker at the University of Texas at Austin has drawn criticism from Texas Republicans and a Democratic congressman, while Piker says the pressure to cancel violates the First Amendment.
A student-organized event featuring Twitch streamer Hasan Piker at the University of Texas at Austin has drawn condemnation from Texas officials in both parties, turning a campus appearance into a broader dispute over free speech, Democratic Party strategy, and Piker's history of inflammatory remarks.
The University Democrats announced the event earlier this month. Piker is expected to address topics including immigration, genocide, and the future of the Democratic Party, according to the group. The Sept. 30 event is limited to UT Austin students, staff, and faculty and will include a question-and-answer session.
On Monday, the University Democrats said in a post on X that UT Austin was violating its own policies by failing to accommodate the event and provide a larger venue. That claim could not be independently verified.
Texas Republicans were quick to object. Sen. Ted Cruz said Piker's appearance said something about the state of the Democratic Party. «Hasan Piker is an America-hating Marxist who has said that America deserved 9/11 and celebrates political violence against Republicans,» Cruz said in a statement. «Americans are entitled to free speech, but it is incumbent upon good people to condemn Piker's incitement. Instead, some Democrats are bringing him to college campuses, while almost all other Democrats are conspicuously silent or worse. It says everything about the state of their party.»
Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, also criticized the event. «Hasan Piker's scheduled appearance at the University of Texas is deeply concerning,» Cuellar wrote on X. «Free speech allows difficult and controversial views, but it does not require anyone to stay silent when someone has a history of hateful comments about Jewish Americans, 9/11, and Hamas terrorism. Jewish students at UT should not be made to feel targeted or unsafe on their own campus.»
Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott, told the Jewish News Syndicate that «terrorist sympathizers have no place in Texas.» He added that Piker had said America deserved 9/11 and praised Hamas, and that the University Democrats were choosing to amplify that rhetoric.
Piker pushed back on the criticism, arguing that the pressure campaign to cancel the event raised a constitutional issue. «Ted cruz, greg abbott ken paxton and now, henry cuellar have demanded that i have my speech at UT austin get cancelled. it's a public university. this is a direct violation of the 1st amendment. free speech must be protected. dems should push back against this attack!» Piker wrote on X.
The controversy reflects growing tension over Piker's rising prominence in political media. Supporters say he helps draw younger voters into political engagement, while critics argue his rhetoric crosses a line. The dispute also follows a recent decision by the University of Washington to cancel a Piker lecture amid questions about free speech.
The University Democrats, UT Austin, and Piker did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
