Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker appeared Tuesday evening at Yale University’s Political Union despite intense backlash from a U.S. senator and conservative campus groups over his history of inflammatory statements.
Piker, 33, whose online handle is HasanAbi, took the stage in Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall for a debate titled “Resolved: End the American Empire.” The well-attended event drew a large crowd, and Piker told the audience that the “U.S. empire is dying,” according to the Yale Daily News.
The invitation sparked immediate controversy. On Friday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) demanded that the federal government revoke Yale’s funding, citing Piker’s past livestream remark suggesting that “if you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott.” Scott also referenced Piker’s earlier comments claiming “America deserved 9/11.”
The Yale chapter of Turning Point USA joined the criticism, calling for the event to be canceled and arguing that Piker’s rhetoric was “antithetical to the mission of Yale University in terms of promoting an environment of free speech grounded in mutual respect.”
The Yale Political Union, a storied student debate society that has previously hosted presidents and major public figures, proceeded with the event as scheduled yesterday (Tuesday). Piker received a warm reception from many in attendance, and the resolution passed following the debate.
