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The University Democrats, a student group at the University of Texas at Austin, unintentionally brought together political heavyweights from both sides of the aisle after announcing earlier this month an event featuring controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.
Piker, who hosts hours-long streams on a daily basis, is known for his incendiary rhetoric, anti-capitalist views and anti-Israel stance. The streamer has recently become a source of an offline debate over how Democrats engage with voters.
According to University Democrats, Piker is expected to address “a variety of topics, ranging from immigration, to genocide, to the future of the Democratic Party.” The group noted that the event, which is scheduled for Sept. 30 and limited to UT Austin students, staff and faculty, will include a Q&A session.
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On Monday, University Democrats claimed in an X post that UT Austin was violating its own policies by “failing to accommodate” the event and provide a large venue. Fox News Digital was not able to independently verify the club’s claim.
It didn’t take long for Texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Henry Cuellar, to voice their disapproval of the event and condemn Piker.
“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,” he added.
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In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Cruz said that Piker’s appearance at an event by University Democrats was a statement about the status 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’s statement read. “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.”
Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, also chimed in, telling Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) that “Terrorist sympathizers have no place in Texas.”
“Hasan Piker said America deserved 9/11 and praised the brutal terrorist organization Hamas. University Democrats at UT Austin are choosing to amplify that disgusting rhetoric,” Mahaleris told JNS.
CONTROVERSIAL STREAMER HASAN PIKER’S LECTURE AXED BY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AMID FREE SPEECH QUESTIONS
While lawmakers focused their criticism on Piker’s past rhetoric, the streamer pushed back, saying that the pressure campaign to cancel the event presented 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 over the event reflects growing tension over Piker’s increasing prominence on the political stage. While some argue that he brings in younger voters, critics say that his rhetoric goes too far.
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Fox News Digital reached out to University Democrats, UT Austin and Piker for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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