Progressive commentators Hasan Piker and Harry Sisson join 'No Kings' protest in Manhattan

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Progressive social media creators Hasan Piker and Harry Sisson on Saturday, March 28, joined the "No Kings" protest in Manhattan, New York City.

The two spoke with CNN during the demonstration at Times Square, highlighting the diverse motivations of the marching crowds.

Hasan Piker views 'No Kings' rallies as a 'good umbrella' for activism

Hasan Piker, a well-known Twitch streamer who has gained significant attention for his vocal criticism of the Israeli government, viewed the gathering as a vital space and described it as a “good umbrella” under which people can advocate for various causes. 

He pointed out that while foreign policy was a major theme, many attendees were focused on domestic civil rights issues as well.

“Not everyone here is actually here exclusively because of the war in Iran, for example, some people are here because there’s a war against trans people in this country, and they care about that,” the 34-year-old said. 

Hasan Piker addresses controversy by emphasizing shared objectives

Despite some media narratives framing Piker as a figure who creates challenges for the Democrats, he expressed a desire for unity against the political right.

He made his intentions clear by stating, “I don’t want Republicans to win in this country.”

Piker acknowledged that while there may be disagreements on strategy, the ultimate objective remains the same. He told CNN, “We can argue on the methods — maybe you think that my worldview and my values and the policies that I want, the politicians to represent, might be different from yours — but at the end of the day, I think we have the same goals.” 

Harry Sisson highlights youth anger and economic struggles

Furthermore, Harry Sisson, a 23-year-old influencer with a massive following of 2.1 million on TikTok, shared the anger he sees among his peers regarding the current state of the nation.

He stated, “I think a lot of people are just really angry. They're angry at the economy. They're angry at the Epstein file cover-up. They're angry that we're at war right now, and Donald Trump is golfing.”

Sisson expressed a deep sense of disappointment in the current political landscape, adding, “It’s a betrayal of the American people.” 

Regarding how Democrats can be successful with young voters, Sisson explained that politicians have to do a better job of speaking about affordability and “shouldn’t come off as preachy or know-it-all.”