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Austin Young Republicans Name PraxBen as Champion, Challenge Hasan Piker to Public Debate Ahead of UT Austin Appearance

Writer: AYR Staff
AYR Staff
Sep 3
4 min read

Youth coalition announces peaceful protest and issues formal resolution of denunciation


AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Young Republicans, joined by a broad youth coalition, have issued a public challenge to progressive streamer Hasan Piker and the University Democrats at UT Austin: meet conservative media personality Benjamin Williams, known online as PraxBen, in an open debate on the merits of their ideologies.


The challenge comes ahead of Piker's scheduled appearance at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6:00 PM CDT at the William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center, located at 2201 Speedway.



A Champion Steps Forward


The Austin Young Republicans and their coalition partners have officially named PraxBen as their champion for the proposed debate, which organizers describe as a public examination of American values, communism, and Islamism.


“We invite participants to gather peacefully, engage respectfully, and defend their views through open dialogue,” the organization stated in its announcement.


The coalition backing the challenge spans a wide cross-section of youth political organizations, including influencers and media personalities, College Republicans, the High School Conservatives of America, local Young Republican clubs, the Heart of Texas Young Republicans coalition, Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) at the University of Texas, and other allied groups.


Organizers plan a peaceful march from a meeting location — to be announced — to the UT Austin campus on the evening of Piker's appearance under the banner “Combating Communism and Islamism.”


The announcement closed with a pointed question for the streamer: “Will Hasan Piker accept the challenge and participate in a public debate, or will he return to sipping champagne?”


Executive Committee Issues Resolution of Denunciation


Alongside the debate challenge, the Executive Committee of the Austin Young Republicans unanimously adopted a formal Resolution of Denunciation and Censure targeting a list of left-wing organizations operating in the Austin area.


The resolution officially renounces, condemns, and censures Hasan Piker, the University Democrats at UT Austin, the Austin Democratic Socialists of America, the Austin Young Democrats, the Communist Party of Travis County, the Young Democratic Socialists of America at UT Austin, the Communist Party of Texas, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and any Austin-based Antifa-affiliated organizations or cells.


The denunciation extends further to all socialist, communist, Marxist, fascist, National Socialist, Bolshevik, Maoist, and Trotskyist organizations, as well as all Islamist extremist organizations.


The resolution was issued under the signature of Benjamin Shrader, Chairman and President of the Austin Young Republicans. The full text of the resolution appears at the end of this release.


Ahead of Piker's appearance at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday, September 30, Chairman and President Benjamin Shrader is taking a hard stand against communism and Islamism, framing the protest and debate challenge as a defense of American values on the university's own doorstep.


“I knew Charlie Kirk, and I know he stands with us in spirit today,” Shrader said. “We will never be Charlie, but we must follow in his footsteps!”


A Commitment to Peaceful Engagement


The resolution includes an explicit legal and public-safety disclaimer, making clear that the document constitutes political opinion and an expression of the organization's viewpoint. References to outside organizations are made solely for identification and political commentary, and the resolution does not allege that any individual member of a named organization has committed a crime.


“The Austin Young Republicans support only peaceful, lawful civic engagement and unequivocally denounce violence of every kind,” the resolution states. “Nothing in this resolution authorizes, encourages, or condones violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, property damage, or interference with anyone's lawful rights of speech, assembly, or political participation.”


The organization closed its resolution with a declaration of contrast: “We are not the Left. The truth of our message is strong enough.”


Hasan Piker Event Details

  • Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

  • Time: 6:00 PM CDT

  • Location: William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center, 2201 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712


Whether Piker and the University Democrats will accept the debate challenge remains to be seen. As of publication, neither has issued a public response.


RESOLUTION OF DENUNCIATION AND CENSURE


The Austin Young Republicans officially renounce, condemn, and censure Hasan Piker, the University Democrats at UT Austin, the Austin Democratic Socialists of America, the Austin Young Democrats, the Communist Party of Travis County, the Young Democratic Socialists of America at UT Austin, the Communist Party of Texas, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and any Austin- based Antifa-affiliated organizations or cells.


This denunciation extends to all socialist, communist, Marxist, fascist, National Socialist, Bolshevik, Maoist, and Trotskyist organizations, as well as all Islamist and Islamic extremist organizations.


Unanimously adopted and issued by the Executive Committee of the Austin Young Republicans.


Signed: Benjamin Shrader, Chairman and President Austin Young Republicans

Date: September 3, 2026


Legal and Public-Safety Disclaimer


This resolution constitutes political opinion and an expression of the Austin Young Republicans' organizational viewpoint. References to outside organizations are made solely for identification and political commentary and do not imply affiliation. This resolution does not allege that any individual member of a named organization has committed a crime.


The Austin Young Republicans instruct all members and partners to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. The organization supports only peaceful, lawful civic engagement and unequivocally denounces violence of every kind. Nothing in this resolution authorizes, encourages, or condones violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, property damage, or interference with anyone's lawful rights of speech, assembly, or political participation.

 
 

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