WASHINGTON — Self-described democratic socialist William Lawrence has raved about radical influencer Hasan Piker and sought to book an appearance on his livestream.
Lawrence, who won his House primary last week in Michigan and will take on incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) in November, first crossed paths with Piker on the sidelines of an April event for US Senate hopeful Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
“I’m a progressive organizer, co-founder of the [climate change-focused] Sunrise Movement. I am running against two carpetbagging war hawks,” Lawrence told Piker at the time.
“I’m pro-Palestine, anti-war. Yes to housing and healthcare. No to bombs and billionaires. And you’re the man, so thanks for being here,” Lawrence added before giving Piker some campaign literature. “I’d love to get on the stream some time.”
William Lawrence recently pulled back from the DSA as he shifts gears to the general election. Andrew Roth/Shutterstock
“Thanks for standing strong, brother.”
Piker wished Lawrence luck in response.
Michigan’s 7th District, anchored by the capital city of Lansing, is seen as a key test for the far left Lawrence, who defeated former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and ex-counterterrorism official Matt Maasdam in the primary.
Republicans have been pummeling El-Sayed over his ties to Piker, who said in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11.”
William Lawrence tried to get onto Hasan Piker’s stream when the two met back in April. Grabien
The streamer later, very begrudgingly, suggested that the comment was “inappropriate” because it gave Republicans fodder to use against him.
However, eagle-eyed viewers have noticed Piker has begun displaying a framed copy of the New York Times front page for Sept. 12, 2001, showing the World Trade Center’s twin towers engulfed in flames.
“You might have noticed something, some changes behind me. I finally framed the cutie Cinderella newspaper from 9/11, the morning of 9/12… the newspaper that covered 9/11. It’s now officially sitting behind me,” he told viewers last month.
Republicans have been pummeling Democrats who have associated with Hasan Piker. @, HasanAbi / YouTube
Piker has also contended that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel was a “direct consequence” of Israeli actions and stated that accounts of terrorists committing rape “doesn’t change the dynamic for me.”
More recently, Piker has fanboyed over Mao Zedong, the notorious Chinese Communist leader who oversaw a famine that killed an estimated 40 to 70 million people.
Piker has also suggested that being a Republican should be criminalized, claimed that “the biggest terrorist internationally is the Republican Party,” and gushed over Hezbollah.
“Unlike Tom Barrett, who hides from mid-Michigan voters, I show up and answer to the people,” Lawrence told The Post. “I make myself available to questions in person across the district and online. That’s why I’ve talked with media and creators across the political spectrum, including Fox News.”
Lawrence has not yet gone on Piker’s show, has no plans to do so, and his team isn’t pursuing it, according to his campaign, which noted that the candidate doesn’t necessarily agree with everything Piker has said.
The Michigan House hopeful had been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) until right before the Aug. 4 primary.
