UT's University Democrats bring Hasan Piker to Austin
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Hasan Piker. Photo: Florencia Tan Jun/Web Summit via Sportsfile via Getty Images
A popular but divisive left-wing streamer will make an appearance Wednesday at the University of Texas, drawing controversy even before he steps on campus.
Driving the news: Hasan Piker is scheduled to speak in Austin at the William C. Powers Student Activities Center at an event hosted by the University Democrats club.
State of play: After RSVPs far outstripped capacity at the roughly 465-seat auditorium at the center, University Democrats president Adit Raha tells Axios the group tried to secure a larger space — but UT officials said no larger venue was available.
What they're saying: Piker "is one of a handful of political figures in the country who has the capacity to generate insane enthusiasm amongst students," Raha tells Axios. "To bring him to campus, especially a campus that has been known to restrict speech is important as well."
The other side: Texas Hillel, a Jewish student organization, posted a statement on social media saying Piker's views "go against (their) values as Americans and Jews, and his hateful, antisemitic rhetoric is repulsive."
- A spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking about about Piker's visit to Austin, told Jewish Insider that "terrorist sympathizers have no place in Texas."
- A UT spokesperson declined an Axios interview request.
Context: Conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro's "America: Love It or Leave It" tour will make a stop at UT on Oct. 7.
- UT's campus speech climate got a D- in a new recent ranking from the civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Zoom in: Piker told Axios in an exclusive interview for a new episode of "The Axios Show" that he believes America conducts more terrorism in the world than al-Qaeda, the terror network that carried out the 9/11 attacks.
- His comments to Axios came in response to a question about his previous statement that "America is the top dog in terrorism."
Piker pointed to the deaths of more than 100 people at an elementary school in Minab, Iran, earlier this year. The AP found evidence that at least one U.S. missile struck the school.
- "If you're killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror," he said.
- The Trump administration has not yet released findings from a Pentagon investigation, and an exact death toll is not known.