Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer who has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks, addressed a crowd of students at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday evening. The event, hosted by the University Democrats, had been met with backlash from Texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, including Governor Greg Abbott, Senator Ted Cruz, and Representative Henry Cuellar.
Piker, who had been accused of promoting anti-American views, used the opportunity to address the allegations directly. He began his remarks by saying "Hook 'Em Horns," a phrase that is a popular tradition at the University of Texas, and was met with cheers and applause from the crowd. Piker went on to thank the students for attending the event, despite the controversy surrounding his appearance.
The event had been initially met with opposition from the university, which had refused to provide a larger space for the event. However, the University Democrats had declared that they would not cancel the event, despite the pressure from outside groups. The event was eventually held in a nearly full venue, with an estimated 3,000 people in attendance.
Piker used the opportunity to address the criticism he had faced from Texas lawmakers, accusing them of hypocrisy when it came to free speech. He argued that those on the right are often given more freedom to express their views than those on the left, and that this is a result of a "permission structure" that seems to favor the right. Piker also criticized President Donald Trump, saying that he is "destroying" the country.
The event was relatively smooth and proceeded without any major disruptions. After his speech wrapped, Piker thanked the audience on his livestream and expressed his appreciation for the turnout, which he said proved the demand for progressive voices even in a red state.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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