The father of a Muslim U.S. Army Captain, who was killed in action in Iraq, slammed Donald Trump during his powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Khan’s son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, died in 2004 trying to stop a suicide bombing. He saved his unit by telling them to stay back as he approached. Khan, 27, was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
“If you want to see the best of America, you need to look no further than Army Captain Humayun Khan,” presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a video before Khan’s father took the stage.
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“Captain Khan told his troops to get back, but he went forward. He took 10 steps toward the car until it exploded,” she said.
In one of the night’s most powerful moments, the elder Khan, along with his wife, both from Charlottesville, Virginia, took the stage to speak about their son and calling themselves patriotic American Muslims.
“Our son, Humayun, had dreams of being a military lawyer. But he put those dreams aside the day he sacrificed his life to save his fellow soldiers,” said Khan.
“Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son ‘the best of America,'” he said. “If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America.”
Khizr Khan gestures as his wife looks on during the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center on July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)Trump has previously said that he plans to ban Muslims from the country.
“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,” said Khan as the crowd booed at Trump’s ideas.
Khan then directly addressed Trump saying:
“Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words “liberty” and “equal protection of law,” he said, taking out a copy of the constitution from his jacket as the crowd burst into cheers.
“Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America, you will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities,” he said.
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“You have sacrificed nothing and no one,” Khan told Trump. “We cannot solve our problems by buildings walls or sowing division. We are stronger together.”
Army Captain Humayun Khan, 27, was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in June 2004. RIP pic.twitter.com/tMMxF8vH8f
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 29, 2016
Khan then urged Americans, Muslim immigrants, and all immigrants to not take the election lightly. He asked people to honor the sacrifice of his son by voting for Clinton, a “healer” not a “divider.”
His speech was widely talked about on social media.
Wow. Khizr Khan’s speech might be the most important speech of this whole convention. #DNCinPHL
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 29, 2016
This is unreal. This is emotional. Wow, wow, wow. Standing ovation for Humayun Khan & his father Khizr Khan. Wow!!! #DemsInPhilly #ProudDem
— Buba A. (@ArcaneSkin) July 29, 2016
Khizr Khan’s speech is so moving. Really the standout moment of the convention.
— emily nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) July 29, 2016
After his emotional speech, “register to vote” jumped as a Google search, according to WIRED’s Nate Goldman.
As soon as Khizr Khan finished his speech, “register to vote” spiked as a Google search. pic.twitter.com/0HZbBuCWwR
— Nate Goldman (@NateGoldman) July 29, 2016
Meanwhile, Fox News was criticized for cutting to commercials instead of airing Khan’s speech.
Hey @Foxnews have the guts to show this speech by Khizr Khan. DNCinPHL
— Anson Kaye (@AEWK) July 29, 2016
