CONTACT: Gary Hubbard, 202-256-8125, ghubbard@usw.org
Pittsburgh (Aug. 1, 2016) – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), issued the following condemnation of Donald Trump for his public treatment of the Muslim American parents of Captain Humayan S.M. Kahn, a soldier in the U.S. Army who was killed in action serving in Iraq while heroically protecting his country.
“The USW represents thousands of military veterans employed in America’s workplaces, who served the nation honorably. They understand the principles of comradery and solidarity in the face of a bully. Trump’s continued attempts to divide America must not succeed.
“The recent news cycle has been full of stories on Trump’s treatment of Khizr and Ghazala Kahn as the parents of Captain Kahn, after the soldier’s father talked publicly of their love of America, their son’s patriotism, the terrible loss for the family, and sacrifice for the country.
“We denounce Trump’s shameful response to verbally attack Captain Kahn’s ‘Gold Star’ mother, who chose to not speak at the Democratic nominating convention. Ghazala later explained how her grief at seeing the large photo of her son on display, caused her to remain quiet so as to not lose her composure.
“We just find it astounding that Trump’s egotistical arrogance lets him strike back with disrespect of the soldier’s mother. It’s an act of cowardice from a small and petty person. A growing number of Gold Star families have asked for an apology from Trump. We fully support their demand. The Kahn Family deserves more than a cheap tweet from Trump.
“While the USW didn’t support Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain’s candidacy in 2010, what is undeniable is his status as a genuine war hero and his years of suffering torture at the hands of the enemy in the Hanoi Hilton prison. Trump mocked McCain’s service too and now has the arrogance to attack a fallen soldier’s mother.
“This corporate real estate billionaire knows no depth of depravity. American voters should consider Trump a foolish notion and unstable to be the nation’s Commander in Chief.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.