Streamer Hasan Piker spoke to over 300 Northwestern students as NU Political Union’s Winter Speaker in a Q&A event in the Technological Institute’s Ryan Family Auditorium on Saturday evening.
Piker, who has three million followers on the streaming platform Twitch, is known for his self-described “leftist” political commentary.
He opened the event by saying he did not come with a speech prepared because “the world is on fire,” noting that this has caused him to be very busy. He went on to talk about the idea of “revolutionary optimism,” a belief that states social change can be achieved through collective action even if it is currently difficult.
Piker described the days of American prosperity as “long gone” and said fascism has made a comeback in the U.S. and other “western liberal capitalist democracies.”
“Now more than ever, I truly believe that there is a really unique opportunity to organize and to show people that we do have that power,” Piker said. “I fear that if we don’t do that, if we don’t seize on this opportunity … If we don’t organize against fascism, I feel like we’re going to succumb to fascism.”
After his speech, the event transitioned into a Q&A, where students were invited to ask Piker questions.
Inquiries ranged from how to get into Twitch streaming to the fate of the Democratic Party.
“Hasan’s very popular, especially with the younger, more leftist crowd, so I really think that Northwestern is kind of a perfect place to host him and ask interesting, thought-provoking questions,” said NU Political Union Co-President and Weinberg senior Clark Mahoney.
Communication first-year Zachary Guo asked Piker how to talk with his Jewish friends, to whom Israel is important, about Israel and Palestine without ending the friendship.
“I think you shouldn’t give up on your friends and try to have normal conversations with them about how they probably don’t care about Israel as much as they think they do, because if they did, they’d probably live there,” Piker said.
He argued that the Israeli state wants people to go and live there through birthright citizenship, but many Americans still choose to live in America, because they “love living here” and are brought up as American citizens. He noted that point has been “one of the more successful ways that you can have this conversation.”
Weinberg senior Rhys Halaby asked Piker to describe the “philosophical underpinnings” of his political beliefs. Piker said it was “empathy, first.”
“I want to improve people’s material conditions,” Piker said. “I want to live in a society where everyone can prosper. I want to improve (conditions) for everybody else by building a more egalitarian society so we can truly advance, (avoid) unnecessary conflict and hope for a more prosperous future.”
He added that he does not see a need to make a distinction between anti-capitalist or Marxist ideas, so he can instead focus on getting people to recognize class consciousness and their class positions.
Event attendee and Communication sophomore Jordan Wilhelm said hearing about Piker’s “philosophical underpinnings” of leading with empathy was interesting because it was so simple.
“I think that’s the correct way that politics should fall in the future, leading through empathy, and focusing on empathy,” Wilhelm said.
McCormick first-year Eli Lewis asked Piker about whether he believed the Democratic Party brand would ever be recoverable to which Piker said he believed it was not.
Piker said many lifelong Democrats are angry, leading them to explore alternative political philosophies like socialism or Democratic socialism. However, he said people should still use the “election vehicle” within the Democratic Party, noting there are still opportunities to work within the Democratic Party.
When Lewis asked if forming a third party will instead lead to long-term political power, Piker said it depends. He noted major leaders of the Democratic Party do not seem interested in doing “the bare minimum pushback against Trump,” which Piker argues is leading to “their own demise.”
“If the Democrats will completely retool the party and become a socialist party, great. Do I believe that’ll happen? Probably not,” Piker said. “If that doesn’t happen and there is enough momentum for a robust, successful alternative, then I believe there will be a point in time when (a third party) separation will take place.”
Email: [email protected]
X: @ninethkk
Related Stories:
— Students from political clubs debate MAGA, U.S. NATO membership and immigration in BridgeNU event
— Platypus, Young Americans for Freedom discuss the American Revolution in modernity
— Liberal, conservative student groups debate at BridgeNU political forum
