Veterans and Muslim-American leaders upset by Donald Trump’s comments about the family of a Muslim-American soldier killed in Iraq rallied outside Trump Tower in Manhattan Monday.
Trump is facing bipartisan criticism for his ongoing feud with the parents of a Muslim-American army captain killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq.
Khizr Khan told his son's story last week during the Democratic National Convention, where he blasted Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the country.
Trump later implied Khan's wife was not allowed to speak because of their religion, which the family strongly refutes.
At the rally, members of the group Veterans Against Hate said Trump consistently disrespects veterans and their families.
"He has sacrificed absolutely nothing," said Katherine Scheirman, a retired Air Force colonel. "I’ve seen the sacrifices that our troops made. We heard from Mrs. Khan the sacrifices that military families make."
"They continue to say why Ms. Khan did not speak, and her silence spoke louder than any words," said Linda Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. "We tell Donald Trump today, start running on a platform and stop running on hate."
Trump Tower is Trump’s base of operations.
Trump left Trump Tower shortly after the rally ended, but he did not address the protesters.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan released statements condemning any criticism of Muslim-Americans, though neither denounced Trump by name.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, described their failure to drop endorsements of Trump as "cowardice."