Hasan Piker, a political commentator known for his left-wing activism, joined in an anti-Israel chant during an event at Cornell University on Thursday, drawing criticism from various quarters. The event was held at Sage Chapel, an iconic campus venue, and was organized by the university’s Students for Justice in Palestine and Young Democratic Socialists of America.

Video footage from the event shows Piker participating in the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan widely regarded as calling for the elimination of the state of Israel. The chant was initially led by the event moderator, who wore a keffiyeh and invited the audience and Piker to join. After the first call-and-response, the slogan was repeated twice more before the crowd shifted to chanting “Free, free Palestine.” Each time, Piker was seen raising his microphone and quietly mouthing the response.

The streamer and political commentator, 35, was met with cheers from the audience and received a high-energy sendoff as he exited the venue. His appearance came on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized New York City Mayor Adolfo Mamdani at the United Nations General Assembly, specifically referencing the mayor’s association with Piker.

The event and Piker’s participation sparked backlash among Cornell alumni and advocacy groups. A Cornell graduate described the university as a “bastion of hate” and expressed embarrassment and outrage over providing a platform to Piker. Concerns were also raised about the choice of Sage Chapel for hosting the event, given its historical significance as the first nonsectarian chapel on a U.S. college campus.

Prior to the event, Cornell’s Hillel chapter issued a statement condemning Piker’s rhetoric, labeling his views as contrary to the values of American and Jewish communities and describing the language used as “repulsive.” Additionally, SAFE Campus, a Jewish advocacy organization, launched a petition urging Cornell as well as state and federal officials to cancel the appearance, highlighting the university’s previous commitments to combat antisemitism following the terror attacks on October 7, 2023.

This controversy comes less than a year after Cornell agreed to a $60 million settlement with the Trump administration, resolving investigations into antisemitism on campus. The incident has intensified ongoing debates about free speech, campus activism, and the line between political expression and hate speech within university communities.