U. Washington Cancels Lecture by Leftist Influencer Hasan Piker
“It was determined that the process for organizing this event did not meet the necessary level of rigor for University-hosted events in the Speaker Series”
The school is trying to claim that the process for booking the talk was flawed.
FOX News reports:
Controversial streamer Hasan Piker’s lecture axed by University of Washington amid free speech questions
A University of Washington lecture featuring progressive Twitch commentator Hasan Piker is off, and school officials cited a flawed planning process as the reason for the cancellation.
Piker, a far-left streamer and YouTube personality, was scheduled to appear in January as part of the school’s 2026-27 Speaker Series, the university said in a statement.
However, after “a review of the process by which the event was planned,” the university canceled the event.
“It was determined that the process for organizing this event did not meet the necessary level of rigor for University-hosted events in the Speaker Series,” the statement said.
“Going forward, procedures will be updated to ensure the standards we have for university-hosted events like the Speaker Series are met, particularly so that we can help elevate the level of dialogue on divisive topics during a polarized time in our country.”
The university’s cancellation of Piker, who previously said America “deserved 9/11” before later calling the remark “inappropriate,” has prompted criticism from First Amendment advocates, and the nonprofit civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) condemned the move.
“If the decision was based on process — and not public backlash or criticism — @UW should be transparent about what standards were not met and how they were applied,” the organization said in an X post.
“Public universities can set standards for events. But they can’t use those standards as cover for canceling a speaker because of their views,” it added.
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Comments
But cancelling conservative voices is perfectly acceptable…
Tbf FIRE has done a great job fighting for conservatives too.
Piker and his fans are toxic. Let them piss everyone else off.
Not according to FIRE. FIRE has always and consistently fought for conservatives’ access to academic platforms, and the principle that universities must supply platforms for all points of view including those the university itself finds repulsive.
I disagree with that principle, which means I’m OK with universities refusing to give a platform to conservatives, so long as they’re willing to come out openly and say “We’re a Marxist institution and we’re not allowing our resources and name to be used to promote anti-Marxist ideas”. Then people can judge for themselves. But if you’re not OK with that, then you can’t be OK when a university does the same thing to the other side.
Charlie Kirk never said anything approaching this.
https://xcancel.com/marklevinshow/status/2085755034889781678
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