Hasan Piker Addresses Students at UT Austin Amid Political Backlash

<p>Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer, spoke to students at the University of Texas in Austin after facing scrutiny from Texas lawmakers. Piker began his stream in his hotel room and continued it backstage at the university before taking the stage.</p><p>On Sunday, the University Democrats reported that they had to "return tickets to thousands of students," stating that UT Austin did not provide a larger venue and an off-campus location declined to host the event after discussions. The student group decided to proceed with the event despite external pressure.</p><p>Piker was welcomed with cheers and applause at the event on Wednesday evening, which was nearly full. He opened his speech with "Hook 'Em Horns," receiving another round of cheers. Piker thanked the students for attending despite the backlash.</p><p>"There was supposed to be 3,000 people here today. Three thousand. It's a real testament to how much progress can be made in even a state like Texas that the people in the national Democratic Party have left behind," Piker stated to the crowd.</p><p>He added, "That's why I wanted to come here today, not just because of the pushback, not in spite of the pushback, but because I know for a fact that there are people who want their voices to be heard."</p><p>Piker addressed allegations regarding his views on the U.S., stating, "I always tell people that if I hated America, I'd be a Republican." He criticized former President Donald Trump, claiming he has harmed the country.</p><p>Piker's remarks included criticism of Republicans, Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Israel. The event, hosted by the University Democrats, faced backlash following its announcement, with Texas lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Rep. Henry Cuellar, condemning Piker's appearance.</p><p>Piker responded to the criticism from lawmakers at the beginning of his speech. Cuellar expressed concerns on social media about the safety of Jewish students at UT Austin due to Piker's presence.</p><p>Piker discussed the First Amendment and the importance of free speech, arguing that those on the left do not receive the same freedoms as those on the right. Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Gov. Abbott, stated to Jewish News Syndicate that "Terrorist sympathizers have no place in Texas."</p><p>In a statement, Cruz described Piker as an "America-hating Marxist" and criticized the Democratic Party for allowing Piker to speak on college campuses. He emphasized that while Americans have the right to free speech, it is essential to condemn Piker's statements.</p><p>Piker reiterated his views on the First Amendment, suggesting that free speech tends to favor the right. "I want to talk about the hypocrisy of free speech," he said. "It seems to only go in one direction, right? You can't have an opinion that's outside of the permission structure, and the permission structure year over year seems to swing wide in the right direction."</p><p>Despite the bipartisan criticism, the event at UT Austin proceeded without major disruptions. After concluding his speech, Piker thanked the audience on his livestream and acknowledged his initial apprehension about being in Texas, noting the turnout demonstrated a demand for progressive voices even in a predominantly conservative state.</p>