Father of fallen Muslim soldier offers to lend his copy of the Constitution to Donald Trump

Army Captain Humayun S. M. Khan had dreams of becoming a military lawyer, but in 2004, he was killed during a suicide attack against the base he was protecting in Iraq. His family is certain that a warning he gave to members of his unit to "hit the dirt" saved countless lives.

On Thursday, Khan's parents stood in front of the Democratic National Convention, as "patriotic American Muslims with undivided loyalty to our country." To a standing ovation and sustained cheers, Khan's father, Khizr Khan, shared that "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 were blessed to raise our three sons in a nation where they were free to be themselves and follow their dreams."

On the day he died, "sacrificing his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers," Khan was "the best of America," Khizr Khan said. "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?"

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The crowd erupted in cheers as Khan pulled a copy of the Constitution out of his jacket and announced, "I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document look for the words 'liberty' and 'equal protection of law.'" He urged Trump to visit Arlington Cemetery and "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 we cannot solve our problems by building walls and sowing division. We are stronger together." Catherine Garcia