Father of Muslim-American soldier killed in action tells Donald Trump: 'You have sacrificed nothing and no one’
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Your support makes all the difference.Khizr Khan, the father of a slain Muslim-American soldier, had powerful words for the Republican nominee at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.
Khan’s son, Army Captain Humayun Khan, was killed by a suicide bomber in Baghdad in 2004. He said that if Donald Trump were able to implement his ban on Muslims from entering the states, his son would have never been able to serve in the US military. During the convention, he took the stage with his wife by his side and delivered one of the most damning speeches of the four-day convention.
“Our son Humayun had dreams of being a military lawyer, but he put those dreams aside the day he sacrificed his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers,” Khan told the packed convention. “Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son ‘the best of America.’ If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America.”
The Khans came to America from the United Arab Emirates. Humayun was 27-years-old when he was inspecting his camp in Baquba, Iraq when he noticed a speeding vehicle packed with explosives approaching his location. He informed his fellow soldiers and ran 10 steps toward the vehicle to stop it, when it exploded, killing him immediately. Kahn told The Washington Post in 2005 that his son’s fellow soldiers did not call him “Captain Khan.” They called him “our captain.”
"Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution?" he continued on Thursday. "I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words, look for the words, liberty and equal protection (under) law.”
Khan also asked if Trump has ever visited Arlington Cemeteries. "Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America,” he said, “you will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities.
"You have sacrificed nothing. And no one."
Here is the full transcript:
Tonight we are honoured to stand here as parents of Captain Humayun Khan and as patriotic American Muslims - with undivided loyalty to our country.
Like many immigrants, we came to this country empty-handed. We believed in American democracy; that with hard work and goodness of this country, we could share in and contribute to its blessings.
We are blessed to raise our three sons in a nation where they were free to be themselves and follow their dreams.
Our son, Humayun, had dreams too, of being a military lawyer, but he put those dreams aside the day he sacrificed his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son 'the best of America'.
If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America. Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. He disrespects other minorities; women; judges; even his own party leadership.
He vows to build walls, and ban us from this country. Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future.
Let me ask you: have you even read the United States constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. [he pulls it out] In this document, look for the words 'liberty' and 'equal protection of law'.
Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America.
You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one.
We cannot solve our problems by building walls, sowing division. We are stronger together. And we will keep getting stronger when Hillary Clinton becomes our President.
In conclusion, I ask every patriot American, all Muslim immigrants, and all immigrants to not take this election lightly.
This is a historic election, and I request to honour the sacrifice of my son - and on election day, take the time to get out and vote.
And vote for the healer. vote for the strongest, most qualified candidate, Hillary Clinton, not the divider. God bless you, thank you.