When University Democrats announced earlier this month that they would host a controversial left-wing political commentator at the University on Sept. 30, the event filled out in 20 minutes, said organization president Adit Raha.
The speaker, Hasan Piker, has faced backlash from University students, organizations and people outside of the University for statements on Israel and saying America “deserved 9/11.” He also received backlash for saying that if his viewers cared about Medicare fraud, they should “kill (U.S. Sen.) Rick Scott, (R-FL)”.
The morning after UDems announced the event with Piker, Raha received a call from the UT Police Department saying that due to the number of RSVPs, it was no longer safe to host the event at the William C. Powers building, where it was originally scheduled. Raha said there were 460 people who were guaranteed seats and 2100 people on the waitlist.
Raha said he tried to switch the event to larger on-campus event venues, but he was told by representatives that they were all unavailable.
In a Sept 14. social media post, UDems said that UT is failing to accommodate their event. UT rules state that if the size of an event is too large for the space, the University will direct the organization to relocate the event “to the extent relocation is practicable.”
“(Piker) is one of the few people in politics who is capable of moving people and creating enthusiasm, especially among students and young people,” Raha said. “We want to really encourage students and engage students where they’re at in the political process.”
The Piker event comes as the University chapter of Turning Point USA is hosting Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator, along with other speakers on Oct. 7. The event will be hosted on-campus.
“(The) First Amendment applies equally to everyone,” Raha said. “Do I like Ben Shapiro? No, I don’t. I don’t think many people like him, but … he should be allowed to speak as well.”
Turning Point USA declined to comment.
Rowen Hamilton, a government and Plan II junior and a self-described institutional Republican, said drawing a large crowd is not a good enough reason for inviting the speaker. Hamilton compared platforming Piker to bringing in a conservative provocateur.
“You think Nick Fuentes wouldn’t draw a crowd if he came to campus?” Hamilton said. “I would imagine he would, but does that mean that we’re morally permitting ourselves to invite people who normalize political violence?”
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.”
Young Americans for Liberty is joining local political organization Austin Young Republicans to protest the event. Benjamin Shrader, chairman and president of AYR, had the idea for the protest and said his organization is protesting because they disagree with Piker, not because they think he should not speak.
“We have no desire to shut down the event.” Shrader said. “I know there are some people that are upset that we have not called for the cancellation of the event, but we think everybody should hear what he has to say because it’s kind of crazy sometimes.”