Khizr Khan Endorses Vangie Williams for VA-01

August 21, 2018

Contact: Sheri Shannon, [email protected]

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Today, Khizr Khan endorsed Vangie Williams for Virginia’s 1^st Congressional District. Khan, the Gold Star father of Captain Humayun Khan, adds his name to the list of community leaders and activists who are backing Williams’ candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We live in troubling times,” said Khan. “Our constitution and the republic it enshrines is under attack. Sadly, the source of that attack is not a foreign enemy, but instead it’s our own President and the Republican majority in Congress.

“As the old proverb says, it’s always darkest before the dawn. There can be no doubt that all Americans have suffered in the darkness of the shadows cast by the policies pursued by our current Congress and the Administration. The good news is that the dawn is coming November 6.

“One of the rays of light and hope in the coming political dawn is Vangie Williams in Virginia’s 1^st Congressional District. I have had the privilege of getting to know Vangie over the past few months and I am impressed by her dedication to not only the people of the 1^st District, but all Americans. She values equality for all people, as is evidenced by her stance on an economy that works for everyone and Medicare for all. She is dedicated to the restoration of our democratic institutions and I am convinced she will be a leader among her peers to maintain the critical checks and balances our government so desperately needs. Most importantly, I know Vangie to be a woman of character who will fight for the rule of law to protect those most vulnerable among us.

“It is for these and many other reasons that I am proud to endorse Vangie Williams for Congress and add my voice to a growing chorus of support for the next congresswoman from Virginia’s 1^st District.”

Khan, made famous by his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, is a lawyer and Harvard Law School graduate, who uses his deep love and respect for the U.S. Constitution to advocate for the equal protection of all people. He and his wife Ghazala are Pakistani immigrants who became American citizens in 1986 and have raised three sons – one of whom bravely lost his life in Iraq in 2004 – to embrace and uphold American values.

“When I first met Khizr Khan, I was humbled by his spirit and his love for America,” said Williams. “At the heart of my campaign is people, and  we must put labels aside to come together as Americans. Khizr’s endorsement of my candidacy speaks volumes about his belief in my ability to lead the district and the values I hold in making progress for all communities of people. I am inspired by his patriotism and look forward to working together to fight for the equal protections every individual deserves.”

Williams is running for Congress to build an economy that works for everyone and for families to have access to world-class healthcare with dental and vision coverage. Her INVEST initiative (Income Now for Veterans, Enlisted Military Families, Safety Officers and Teachers) calls for the first $50,000 of federal income tax to be exempted for public servants to give them a much-needed economic boost.

Williams is the first African-American woman to secure the Democratic party nomination in Virginia’s 1^st Congressional District. A victory in November will make her the first woman of color elected to Congress from Virginia. Williams will face Rep. Rob Wittman in November.

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