When Gold Star father Khizr Khan took the stage at the Democratic National Convention during the 2016 election, he pulled his pocket constitution from his jacket and asked then-candidate Donald Trump a question.
“Donald Trump, you are asking Americans to trust you with your future,” Khan said. “Let me ask you, have you even read the U.S. constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words 'liberty' and 'equal protection of law.'”
Khan lost his son, Muslim Army Captain Humayun S.M. Khan, in Iraq in 2004. During his speech to Trump, Khan touched on the president’s record with diversity, including his comments on immigration. “Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery?” Khan continued. “Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending [the] United States of America — you will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities.”
Since the convention, Khan (and his pocket constitution) has made 165 media appearances, traveling the country to encourage “meaningful conversations” about the “goodness” of the United States. Khan joined Boston Public Radio hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan Monday to discuss his memoir, “An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice.”
The following excerpt of their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
JIM BRAUDE: When you first saw the Declaration of Independence, felt it, read it, the U.S. Constitution ... what was that like for you, and why? I see that you brought your pocket constitution with you … tell us about when you were a law student in Pakistan when you first touched those documents.
KHIZR KHAN: For your audience to understand what background I come from, I had lived under two martial laws where I had to have a permit to go and buy a bag of sugar or flour or be able to come out of the house on the street, or to go to school … when the martial law was imposed, no one [would] dare to come out. The very first thing that these authoritarians do ... is that they go after the press. Shut down the newspapers, lock them up, put all of the reporters and all of the media — they are no good, put them in prison. The only condition they impose, they will be released and you can print newspapers if you never criticize the dictator, you never criticize the ruler, the general and the martial law administrator. I came from that background.
Then ... I had brought the materials when I was in my second year of law school ... the full constitution. The very first page that was on top of those materials was the words ‘Declaration of Independence.’ I thought — these words are treason. You are committing a crime against the colonist, how come these people have this courage that they declared their independence? You wait for the mercy of your ruler, of your king, of your dictator to give you independence. You argue, you plead … but you never declare, because that is [a] death warrant. I read it in one standing, all of it, all of the 18 grievances that are listed in this, 1,338 words of the Declaration of Independence … what an amazing nation this would be. I did not have the capacity ... to even dream or think, would I be able to go there, to see these people? And here we are.
BRAUDE: You were kind enough [to do an interview] for Greater Boston ... I think off the air, I asked you how many appearances you've made. I think so far, since the convention, 160, is that what it was?
KHAN: Coming to Boston ... this is [the] 165th.
BRAUDE: You don't take compensation for these appearances, you ask just to cover your expenses. How do you afford all of this?
KHAN: These are all pro-bono ... that’s what this journey is all about. Ghazala and I specifically decided that we will continue, as long as we are invited to meaningful conversation, going to communities, heartening them, talking about how much goodness of this country still prevails, regardless of some divisiveness and very little ugliness that exists in this country.
I come from Charlottesville, Virginia. We thought that we had buried that Nazi flag in Germany. My sons and daughters and thousands died in defeating that racism, that concept of supremacy, of one race over others. That is so undemocratic. Democracy does not allow, does not accept any supremacy. It is equality that is democracy, liberty is the same thing. I saw with my own eyes, that 12th of August attack on Charlottesville, [that] display of weapons and guns and threatening chants and ugliness that was on full display.
Then on Saturday, the 13th of August, my daughter (I call her my daughter out of affection) Heather Heyer was murdered by a white supremacist. But then Wednesday, Charlottesville came together, there was a family march … but then we saw the true American spirit in Boston, when these half-dozen racists showed up here to assault this beloved city, this city of patriots.
I never hesitate, throughout the country, since then, whenever I have the opportunity, to tell America: look towards Boston. Look how Bostonians showed up … in support of each other, supporting the community, the peacefulness, and to repel the ugliness from Massachusetts and Boston.
To hear Khizr Khan’s full interview with Boston Public Radio, click on the audio player above.
