Gold Star Parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan Speak at Islamic Convention in Rosemont

The Khan family made national headlines when they criticized Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country in a speech at the DNC

Two of Donald Trump's most high-profile critics spoke at a convention in a Chicago suburb on Saturday, urging American Muslims to vote for what they believe is right without mentioning the Republican nominee by name.

Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Gold Star parents of fallen U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, made national headlines in an emotional speech at the Democratic National Convention this July as Khizr spoke out against Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country.

On Saturday night, both Khizr and Ghazala addressed the Islamic Society of North America's 53rd Annual Convention at Rosemont's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, imploring activism in the Muslim community. 

"You are all my children and I feel very close to you because you have shown me lots of love and respect," Ghazala Khan said in her brief remarks.

Trump criticized the Khan family following their widely lauded DNC appearance, where Khizr offered to lend his copy of the Constitution to the nominee.

"I still carry the Constitution," he noted Saturday, clutching the pocket U.S. Constitution he brandished during his DNC speech. 

Trump also suggested Ghazala was silent while Khizr spoke because she may not have been allowed to talk during her husband’s speech.

In response, Ghazala wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, saying it was too difficult for her to speak because she cannot be in the same room as photos of her son. The backlash against Trump is often credited with knocking him down in the polls after the convention.

"May Allah give you a power to fight against yourself, bring all the goodness of your heart out and give to others. You will receive more — look at me, I am big example for that," she continued in her remarks Saturday.

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson also spoke at the event, becoming the first sitting Cabinet member and the highest-ranking U.S. government official to ever address the convention, the largest gathering of Muslims in the United States.

Khizr Khan's speech was in part a call to action, as he requested "three favors" of the attendees.

"I ask you today to stand up, stand up in the name of your creator to clean that smear of violence from the name of Islam," he said. "And through you, I ask 1.6 billion Muslims that have been quiet today — no more, no more, no more, it ended today." [[392305951, C]]

He asked those listening to participate in democracy.

"This generation, all of us, are banner-bearer of the message of Islam, universal message of Islam, which is peace," he said. "Register, vote, let your voice be heard so that tomorrow, our future generation, our children don’t have to hear this ugly political rhetoric that we have heard. Enough."

Khan's third request was that everyone protect and care for newly-arriving immigrant families.

"Be their mentor, and be their caretaker, and be their brother and sister in time of need," he said.

Ghazala described how their lives have changed since the DNC: "Everywhere I go, people's eyes full of tears, and their faces full of love."

"We take solace in this, that somehow we have started a conversation for the better of our country, for the better of our nation," Khizr added.

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