Hasan Piker on Being Banned from U.K., Traveling to Cuba & Supporting Candidates Critical of Israel
Explore the podcast
465 episodes
Latest Shows
Democracy Now!
Podcasts
TranscriptFollow along using the transcript.
This is democracyow democracynow.org. I'm Amy Goodman with Juan Gonzalez.
6 seconds
Earlier this week, the British government banned the progressive political commentators Hassan and13 seconds
Jenk Uer from entering the UK. They were scheduled to speak at the South by19 seconds
Southwest London Festival and the Oxford Union Society. The UK's Home Office said it was cancelling their travel permits,28 seconds
quote, on the grounds that their presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good," unquote. Both36 seconds
and Yuger are outspoken in their criticism of Israel. Recent comments from43 seconds
uh that have drawn scrutiny include saying that as a quote lesser evil voter, he would vote for Hamas over52 seconds
Israel every single time unquote. The week prior to their ban, British Labor MP David Taylor called for to be1 minute
barred,
saying, quote, "It's shocking that South by Southwest would invite
someone who's openly supported a proscribed terrorist organization and1 minute, 10 seconds
spouted these kinds of vile anti-semitic rants to speak at their festival. With the unacceptable rise in anti-semitism1 minute, 17 seconds
on our streets leaving British Jews in a constant state of anxiety, Hassan is clearly not conducive to the public1 minute, 25 seconds
good. He said Hassan is one of the most prominent online influencers on the1 minute, 32 seconds
left. He has millions of followers and subscribers across social media platforms.1 minute, 39 seconds
He live streams on the gaming platform Twitch for hours every day. Recently, he's drawn the eye of the Democratic1 minute, 47 seconds
Party leadership for endorsing and campaigning on behalf of progressive candidates and primaries across the1 minute, 55 seconds
country.
To talk more about his ban from the UK, his views on Israel, his
critique of the Democratic Party, and more, we're joined by Hassan from2 minutes, 4 seconds
his home where he streams uh in West Hollywood, California. Hassan, welcome to Democracy Now. Um can you start off2 minutes, 14 seconds
by responding to this ban on you and Jenk is your uncle, is that right, Jenkuger?2 minutes, 22 seconds
Um on what this means? In fact, you're going to virtually participate in the Oxford debate anyway, right?2 minutes, 29 seconds
Yeah.
Um, I was also supposed to First of all, thank you for having me. It's a
real honor to be on the show. Uh, I'm basically listening to the show
uh a lot2 minutes, 38 seconds
earlier than I normally would uh because I usually do that in my morning routine.2 minutes, 43 seconds
Um, but uh so Jen and I were supposed to participate at the Oxford Union. Uh uh we were supposed to do different panels2 minutes, 50 seconds
at South by Southwest. I was also uh uh supposed to have a conversation with Jeremy Corbin and Zack Palansky, the2 minutes, 58 seconds
leader of the Green Party. And I also had another talk set up with uh former Greek finance minister Jiannis3 minutes, 4 seconds
Verafakus. Um and then um Jenk was supposed to travel to the UK with his family and he was stopped at the airport3 minutes, 12 seconds
and he found out that uh his visa had been rescended and that he could not get on the plane. So I ended up checking uh3 minutes, 20 seconds
my visa as well and found out that my visa was also revoked. Um now I find I find uh what the British government did3 minutes, 28 seconds
here to be objectionable. Uh I I find it to be disgusting. Uh I I also find it to be terrifying. I think it's a terrifying3 minutes, 36 seconds
prospect for the future of Western liberal democracies. uh the fact that a country that has in the past harbored uh3 minutes, 45 seconds
much more radical thinkers uh than myself uh to to completely drop all uh pretext that they care about uh free3 minutes, 54 seconds
expression uh instead of protecting it is I think a sign uh of the times I think is a sign that uh we're moving4 minutes, 1 second
down uh into a we're headed down a very different uh dare I say fascist direction uh in the western4 minutes, 11 seconds
And this is uh this is happening Hassan under a labor government uh in Britain4 minutes, 17 seconds
uh especially given the Britain's particular role when it comes to Israel and Palestine being the prim primary4 minutes, 25 seconds
imperial power that uh allowed the creation or uh uh promoted the development of the state of Israel.4 minutes, 34 seconds
Yeah, absolutely. Um there is definitely a lot of culpability um not that extends far beyond the Balfur declaration. Um uh4 minutes, 43 seconds
and and the the British government has uh been coordinating with the Israeli government. Uh the Royal Air Force has4 minutes, 52 seconds
been
conducting surveillance missions uh flying off of their Cypress base.
Kier Starmer has actually visited this uh base and and has openly
admitted that he5 minutes, 1 second
could never say in broad daylight what uh the the Royal Air Force is doing there. Uh Starmer has also invited Isaac5 minutes, 10 seconds
Herzog who has been mentioned in the ICC and the ICJ court cases uh against both Israel and Israeli officials like former5 minutes, 19 seconds
defense minister Yo Galant and current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So the fact that uh England extends a red5 minutes, 27 seconds
carpet to war criminals and collaborators of war criminals uh that have played a role uh in the genocide of5 minutes, 34 seconds
the Palestinians. But then uh critics of Israel are are uh considered to be real threats, significant threats to public5 minutes, 43 seconds
safety is is preposterous. Uh but once again I think this is a real warning. uh5 minutes, 49 seconds
just as uh the prescription of Palestine action uh and and the the mass arrests5 minutes, 57 seconds
that have taken place of pensioners in the UK that uh have demonstrated in support of Palestine action was a very6 minutes, 5 seconds
clear attempt by the British government to uh do the exact opposite of the democratic process to refuse to listen6 minutes, 12 seconds
to the very just and moral demands of the masses and instead suppress their voices and and try to silence them6 minutes, 20 seconds
through state repression is uh is is very clear that there's a there's a terrifying uh direction that that the UK6 minutes, 28 seconds
is headed down. Um, and yes, it is the Labor government's complicity both uh in the crimes that Israel has committed,6 minutes, 36 seconds
but
it's also the Labor government's complicity in the acceleration towards
fascism because the next government that comes in uh if it's, God
forbid, a6 minutes, 45 seconds
reformed
government, a far-right authoritarian government, they're going to
overtake this exact same process. And they might not have even the6 minutes, 52 seconds
restrictions
that the Labor government is applying currently. Uh so to offer them
the keys of the castle in this manner is is complicity. It's something
that we've seen. Uh it's appeasement.7 minutes, 3 seconds
It's
something that we've seen throughout history in the past where u
liberals assume that they could uh overtake the the reactionary demands7 minutes, 12 seconds
coming from the right in an effort to keep control and they ultimately failed to the fascists.7 minutes, 17 seconds
Uh I wanted to ask you also about another international issue which you've been involved with uh uh uh controversy7 minutes, 24 seconds
lately. Uh you went to Cuba in March with the West Ramen convoy and which brought activists from 33 countries and7 minutes, 32 seconds
medicines and uh supplies to Cuba to attempt to break this economic blockade and warfare that the United States has7 minutes, 40 seconds
been
uh has been involved in against Cuba. But last week it was reported
that the Treasury Department sent you and media Benjamin, founder of
Code Pink,7 minutes, 49 seconds
who helped organize the convoy, a request for information from the Office of Foreign Assets Control to look at the7 minutes, 56 seconds
possible violations. What's your response to this inquiry?8 minutes, 1 second
Yeah. Uh, so I've yet to receive a subpoena, even though Fox News claimed I received one. I have not. Um, but I8 minutes, 8 seconds
think that uh the the uh news article itself was symbolic. I I assume that this is uh less of a uh real inquiry and8 minutes, 17 seconds
more so an opportunity for the American government to try to silence political disscent and to also criminalize8 minutes, 24 seconds
activism. Uh we were there to support the Cuban population uh with humanitarian aid that was necessary. Uh,8 minutes, 32 seconds
and I also separately got a a journalism visa as well to cover uh the atrocities that were taking place on the ground and8 minutes, 40 seconds
and to try to figure out uh what our government's culpability was in the economic devastation that Cubans were8 minutes, 48 seconds
facing.
And uh I mean it was it was horrifying. You guys have covered this
stuff extensively, but it's very clear that the Trump administration is
not8 minutes, 56 seconds
making
it a secret that they want to prosecute all manner of political
disscent, whether it be the counterterrorism initiatives implemented9 minutes, 3 seconds
by Sebastian Gora or even now uh lawfare by way of the Treasury Department. Um I9 minutes, 10 seconds
think the goal here is to once again, just like the British government, silence descent and and um maybe even9 minutes, 18 seconds
ultimately criminalize it. Uh hopefully this won't be a president- setting case.9 minutes, 23 seconds
Uh but uh we are headed down a scary path here.9 minutes, 26 seconds
Hassan, I wanted to play uh a clip of a short documentary about your trip to Cuba.9 minutes, 34 seconds
For
years, I've wanted to visit Cuba. I wanted to learn about the problems
caused by the embargo. I wanted to see a socialist society in person.
Last month, I took the opportunity to go as part of9 minutes, 42 seconds
a
humanitarian mission to bring aid that my government won't. I'd be
accompanying Progressive International alongside hundreds of others from
around the world. Activists, journalists, artists,9 minutes, 51 seconds
and
politicians will be coming to the island by boat and plane to deliver
over 40 tons of necessary supplies, food, medicine, and medical
equipment. All9 minutes, 59 seconds
right, we're in the heart of uh we're in the heart of Havana right now. One of the things that I've immediately been10 minutes, 7 seconds
hit with is is how beautiful the city is, but also how hollowed out it is in many ways. It it looks like I mean some10 minutes, 15 seconds
of these houses they they have the skeleton, they have the outside, but inside it looks like it's bombed out.10 minutes, 22 seconds
You know, there's people living in it, but like very clearly this is in a dire state of disrepair.10 minutes, 30 seconds
More indictments have been brought in this last day against Cuban leaders.10 minutes, 35 seconds
Hassan um did you actually deliver medical supplies? How successful were you? Uh yes. So the the10 minutes, 44 seconds
humanitarian
aid mission uh was accompanied by hundreds of other activists as well.
Uh it wasn't just medical supplies. There was I believe10 minutes, 52 seconds
food as well. Um the the the delivery was successful, but ultimately it's a it's a drop uh in the bucket and and11 minutes
what the Cuban population actually needs right now is oil. Uh because oil is what runs their entire energy grid. And uh11 minutes, 8 seconds
unfortunately the Trump administration has very openly created a blockade and the island's energy grid is currently11 minutes, 15 seconds
still
suffering. Now there's also one aspect of this that that I think adds
insult to injury and that's the reality that there is actually parts of
the11 minutes, 24 seconds
Cuban island that are receiving oil with regular frequency and that is of course Guantanamo Bay. That's a American11 minutes, 32 seconds
military base on the island of Cuba. Uh, and it's basically an old colonial outpost and and so you have the situation we're11 minutes, 40 seconds
90 miles off of our coastline. You have 9 million or so people suffering. Uh, uh, there's there's food shortages.11 minutes, 47 seconds
People can't deliver medicine all around the the island because there's simply no oil. Uh, and uh, food is uh, medicine is11 minutes, 56 seconds
also spoiling as well. They're just sitting in factories um, because there's no refrigeration. Uh and yet a couple12 minutes, 3 seconds
miles
off of a couple miles away from Havana, you have Guantanamo Bay where
they have a McDonald's uh and they have uh American military members
stationed12 minutes, 12 seconds
there and uh they have energy uh uh for the for the entire island potentially.12 minutes, 19 seconds
Um I think this really uh shows the the the inhumity and the juxtaposition. Uh and uh it's it's I feel like it's12 minutes, 28 seconds
something
that many Americans are completely oblivious to if they were more aware
of the crisis uh that they would also find it to be morally12 minutes, 36 seconds
repugnant and unconscionable. And uh I suspect that's part of the reason why the federal government wants to stop12 minutes, 43 seconds
these kinds of actions or at least create an environment of threats and pressure so that other people who could12 minutes, 50 seconds
also freely travel to Cuba and and see what's going on for themselves and maybe even deliver humanitarian aid themselves12 minutes, 57 seconds
think twice before they participate in something like this. I myself am unbound and I hope others will be too. Hassan13 minutes, 4 seconds
At the 2024 DNC in Chicago, 30 delegates to the convention were with the National Uncommitted movement.13 minutes, 11 seconds
Uncommitted
delegates were selected in state Democratic primaries to call for an
end to the Biden administration's backing of Israel's assault on Gaza.13 minutes, 20 seconds
After the DNC denied their request for a Palestinian-American speaker on stage, uncommitted delegates and their allies13 minutes, 27 seconds
staged a sitin outside the convention hall. This is a clip of the co-founder of the uncommitted movement, Abbas Aloea.13 minutes, 35 seconds
Here is the scandal, my friends. Here is the scandal. The scandal is that there are forces within Democratic Party13 minutes, 44 seconds
leadership who do not want us to talk about Palestinian human rights. But that's not sustainable. This is a watershed moment.13 minutes, 54 seconds
So, this was a watershed moment. you actually were inside the DNC for a while before they put you out. You had a14 minutes, 1 second
select seat there as a commentator. Um, but can you talk about the fact I put this question also to Dr. Hamawi who you14 minutes, 10 seconds
campaigned with along with Dr. Elsa. You campaigned with him also for his senatorial race. Um, can you talk about14 minutes, 18 seconds
the uh autopsy report and it not talking about Israel and Gaza, though the issue14 minutes, 25 seconds
took center stage at the DNC with this sitin with people who are quite involved with the Democratic National Committee.14 minutes, 35 seconds
Yeah. Um, I think to myself all the time, uh, whether this is a byproduct of incompetence or, uh, if they are totally14 minutes, 43 seconds
aware
that this is a major crisis, a major issue, and they're cynically
trying to avoid having a conversation about it. Um, I also had
interviewed the14 minutes, 51 seconds
uncommitted movement outside. Uh, and I had my press credentials revoked in real time while I was live broadcasting at14 minutes, 58 seconds
the
DNC while simultaneously being interviewed by a New York Times
reporter, as a matter of fact, for my criticisms of the DNC. Um uh I I
was15 minutes, 7 seconds
invited but then uh you know I was I guess disinvited at the same time uh for uh these these exact warnings that I was15 minutes, 14 seconds
issuing
to as many Democrats as I possibly could. It turns out those warnings
were true. Um and yet the Democratic party still has not learned a15 minutes, 23 seconds
very important lesson uh and and still seemingly chooses not to listen to the demands of the masses. A similar pattern15 minutes, 30 seconds
arises here uh that that we just talked about with uh with the United Kingdom.15 minutes, 36 seconds
Uh I feel like there's a real crisis in democracy and illiberalism in the Western world because of our complicity15 minutes, 43 seconds
with war crimes and our complicity in Israel's genocide. uh and instead of addressing these problems, instead of uh15 minutes, 51 seconds
solving
these issues, instead of leaning into the demands of the overwhelming
majority of the masses, uh the American government and the Democratic
Party,16 minutes
just
like the Labor Party, which is supposed to be the left uh
representation of politics in both these countries, uh has decided to uh
suppress16 minutes, 9 seconds
uh
the the needs of the masses, has decided to avoid having these
conversations. Uh having said that however uh there is an opportunity
here16 minutes, 18 seconds
as uh you know Adam Hamoy, Chris Rob in uh Philadelphia and numerous insurgent candidates that are popping up all16 minutes, 27 seconds
around
the country in the in the primary system and actually successfully
defeating the establishment Democrats all around the country have have
created16 minutes, 35 seconds
this uh unavoidable force uh this that will hopefully present a a very good16 minutes, 43 seconds
change
within the party. Uh, and it's not just, of course, about Israel
either. It's about, uh, these issues broadly. Uh, I feel like the the
center16 minutes, 51 seconds
of
power in the Democratic party for far too long has conceded to the
interests of profits, to the interests of corporations, and often times
placed16 minutes, 59 seconds
them first, uh, and placed the interests of the population, the people, uh, the masses, the working class last. Uh17 minutes, 6 seconds
hopefully we can make a change and we can force that change because I feel as though the the party right now uh needs17 minutes, 15 seconds
fighters. Uh we don't have a lot of time. Fascism is here. Uh and and someone has to fight back. Uh and and um17 minutes, 24 seconds
the way to do that is uh through the the democratic process and allowing uh real democracy to take place.17 minutes, 32 seconds
Hassan we want to thank you for being with us. political commentator and live streamer on the Twitch platform.17 minutes, 40 seconds
That does it for our show. I'll be in Tampa, Florida tonight. We'll be celebrating WMF Community Radio at two17 minutes, 49 seconds
screenings of the film Steal the Story, Please about the history of Democracy Now and the importance of independent17 minutes, 56 seconds
media at the Sunray Cinema. You can check our website at democracynow.org.18 minutes, 1 second
And then at the O cinema in Miami Saturday and Sunday for three screenings and of course it'll be screening before18 minutes, 9 seconds
beyond that. I'll be with the director Tia Lesson. That does it for our show next week in Sheffield in England and18 minutes, 16 seconds
then in Belfast in Ireland and then back to a swing through Vermont. Check our website. I'm Amy Goodman with Juan Gonzalez.18 minutes, 25 seconds
Thanks
for watching Democracy Now on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel and
turn on notifications to make sure you never miss a video. And for more
of our18 minutes, 33 seconds
audienceup
supported journalism, go to democracynow.org or where you can download
our news app, sign up for our newsletter, subscribe to the daily18 minutes, 42 seconds
podcast, and so much
Democracy Now!
3.33M subscribers
No comments:
Post a Comment