NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joked Thursday that Donald Trump could not tell the difference between him and Michael Jordan and bashed the Republican presidential candidate for his plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Michael Jordan and I'm here with Hillary [Clinton]," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I said that because I know that Donald Trump couldn't tell the difference."
The crowd inside the Wells Fargo Center at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia roared with laughter.
The Hall of Famer then told the story of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, 27, of Bristow, Va., who died in 2004 in Iraq.
Khan, who was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, is among 14 American Muslim soldiers who have died in combat since 9/11.
Abdul-Jabbar equated Trump's Muslim ban and the religious liberty law Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed last year to the "tyranny" opposed by the nation's Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson.
"They are the opposite of what Jefferson wanted because they allow discrimination," he said. "At its core, discrimination is the result of fear.
"Those who think Americans scare easily, enough to abandon our country's ideals in exchange for a false sense of security, underestimate our resolve.
"To them, we say only this: not here, not ever."
In remarks shortly after a video featuring Clinton praising his son, Khizr Khan said that "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's leadership."
Khan then reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
"Have you even read the United States constitution?" Khan asked. "I will gladly lend you my copy."
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