what would you do if you were shot in the face and left for dead
the face and left for dead
the face and left for dead imagine you’re minding your own business
imagine you’re minding your own business
imagine you’re minding your own business went for no reason that you could fathom
went for no reason that you could fathom
went for no reason that you could fathom a stranger comes straight for you it
a stranger comes straight for you it
a stranger comes straight for you it raises a shotgun aims it at your face
raises a shotgun aims it at your face
raises a shotgun aims it at your face and pulls the trigger if you survived
and pulls the trigger if you survived
and pulls the trigger if you survived what would you do with the show of hand
what would you do with the show of hand
what would you do with the show of hand how many of you would want to seek
how many of you would want to seek
how many of you would want to seek revenge I see some brave hurts it is
revenge I see some brave hurts it is
revenge I see some brave hurts it is natural to want to fight back and there
natural to want to fight back and there
natural to want to fight back and there is nothing shameful in having that
is nothing shameful in having that
is nothing shameful in having that instinct but sometimes instinct does not
instinct but sometimes instinct does not
instinct but sometimes instinct does not serve us well in the long run living in
serve us well in the long run living in
serve us well in the long run living in a diverse society they are bound to be
a diverse society they are bound to be
a diverse society they are bound to be conflicts social cultural religious
conflicts social cultural religious
conflicts social cultural religious personal and professional we’re living
personal and professional we’re living
personal and professional we’re living in a time where the escalation of these
in a time where the escalation of these
in a time where the escalation of these conflicts means more innocent people are
conflicts means more innocent people are
conflicts means more innocent people are paying the price
paying the price
paying the price all too often with their lives
all too often with their lives
all too often with their lives unfortunately the increase in conflicts
unfortunately the increase in conflicts
unfortunately the increase in conflicts misunderstanding
misunderstanding
misunderstanding violence creates only more victims more
violence creates only more victims more
violence creates only more victims more laws more division and ultimately solves
laws more division and ultimately solves
laws more division and ultimately solves nothing I can speak to this from
nothing I can speak to this from
nothing I can speak to this from personal experience I was one of these
personal experience I was one of these
personal experience I was one of these innocent victims I became a survivor not
innocent victims I became a survivor not
innocent victims I became a survivor not satisfied though I eventually began to
satisfied though I eventually began to
satisfied though I eventually began to thrive utilizing the tools that this
thrive utilizing the tools that this
thrive utilizing the tools that this great country provides and choosing the
great country provides and choosing the
great country provides and choosing the path of mercy compassion and forgiveness
path of mercy compassion and forgiveness
path of mercy compassion and forgiveness which ultimately brought me here today
which ultimately brought me here today
which ultimately brought me here today after graduating as a pilot officer from
after graduating as a pilot officer from
after graduating as a pilot officer from Bangladesh Air Force Academy I did not
Bangladesh Air Force Academy I did not
Bangladesh Air Force Academy I did not feel my destiny was there when I got a
feel my destiny was there when I got a
feel my destiny was there when I got a chance to come to the United States for
chance to come to the United States for
chance to come to the United States for additional higher education I took it
additional higher education I took it
additional higher education I took it I left my family my home my fiance my
I left my family my home my fiance my
I left my family my home my fiance my career to come to the United States to
career to come to the United States to
career to come to the United States to fulfill my educational pursuits but also
fulfill my educational pursuits but also
fulfill my educational pursuits but also hoping to experience the American dream
hoping to experience the American dream
hoping to experience the American dream but within a short time my American
but within a short time my American
but within a short time my American dream
dream
dream turned into an American Nightmare
turned into an American Nightmare
turned into an American Nightmare shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in white supremacist in Dallas was in a
in white supremacist in Dallas was in a
in white supremacist in Dallas was in a shooting rampage killing Muslims I was
shooting rampage killing Muslims I was
shooting rampage killing Muslims I was one of his victims on September 21st ten
one of his victims on September 21st ten
one of his victims on September 21st ten days after the attacks I was working in
days after the attacks I was working in
days after the attacks I was working in a friend’s gas station when a man
a friend’s gas station when a man
a friend’s gas station when a man wearing a bandana sunglasses and a
wearing a bandana sunglasses and a
wearing a bandana sunglasses and a baseball cap holding a sawed-off
baseball cap holding a sawed-off
baseball cap holding a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun burst in he
double-barreled shotgun burst in he
double-barreled shotgun burst in he pointed the gun directly at my face
pointed the gun directly at my face
pointed the gun directly at my face having been robbed before I opened the
having been robbed before I opened the
having been robbed before I opened the cash register and offered him money
cash register and offered him money
cash register and offered him money instead of taking it his gauge remained
instead of taking it his gauge remained
instead of taking it his gauge remained fixed and then he asked what are you
fixed and then he asked what are you
fixed and then he asked what are you from and before I could say anything
from and before I could say anything
from and before I could say anything more then excuse me he pulled the
more then excuse me he pulled the
more then excuse me he pulled the trigger from point and blank range
trigger from point and blank range
trigger from point and blank range I felt it first like a million bees were
I felt it first like a million bees were
I felt it first like a million bees were stinging my face and then I hearted the
stinging my face and then I hearted the
stinging my face and then I hearted the explosion I looked down and so blood was
explosion I looked down and so blood was
explosion I looked down and so blood was pouring like it opened faucet from the
pouring like it opened faucet from the
pouring like it opened faucet from the right side of my head frantically and
right side of my head frantically and
right side of my head frantically and instinctively I place both hands on my
instinctively I place both hands on my
instinctively I place both hands on my head thinking I had to keep my brain
head thinking I had to keep my brain
head thinking I had to keep my brain from spilling out I heard myself
from spilling out I heard myself
from spilling out I heard myself screaming then notice the gunman is
screaming then notice the gunman is
screaming then notice the gunman is still standing there and I thought if I
still standing there and I thought if I
still standing there and I thought if I did not appear to be dying he would
did not appear to be dying he would
did not appear to be dying he would shoot me again I fell to the floor he
shoot me again I fell to the floor he
shoot me again I fell to the floor he finally left I grabbed the phone but I
finally left I grabbed the phone but I
finally left I grabbed the phone but I couldn’t not dial nine-one-one I ran to
couldn’t not dial nine-one-one I ran to
couldn’t not dial nine-one-one I ran to the barber shop next door and three men
the barber shop next door and three men
the barber shop next door and three men inside looked at me in horror and
inside looked at me in horror and
inside looked at me in horror and assuming the gunman was right behind me
assuming the gunman was right behind me
assuming the gunman was right behind me scramble to escape out back I screamed
scramble to escape out back I screamed
scramble to escape out back I screamed grabbing one of them and begging him to
grabbing one of them and begging him to
grabbing one of them and begging him to call 9-1-1 as he did I caught myself in
call 9-1-1 as he did I caught myself in
call 9-1-1 as he did I caught myself in the mirror the image reflected back was
the mirror the image reflected back was
the mirror the image reflected back was gruesome like something straight
gruesome like something straight
gruesome like something straight out of a horror movie in an instant it
out of a horror movie in an instant it
out of a horror movie in an instant it takes to pull the trigger
takes to pull the trigger
takes to pull the trigger I had become disfigured was losing blood
I had become disfigured was losing blood
I had become disfigured was losing blood and strength
and strength
and strength rapidly fighting to stay awake fighting
rapidly fighting to stay awake fighting
rapidly fighting to stay awake fighting to stay alive the EMTs arrived on scene
to stay alive the EMTs arrived on scene
to stay alive the EMTs arrived on scene found me running around the parking lot
found me running around the parking lot
found me running around the parking lot screaming barefoot shirtless on my way
screaming barefoot shirtless on my way
screaming barefoot shirtless on my way to the hospital I began losing
to the hospital I began losing
to the hospital I began losing consciousness images of my mother my
consciousness images of my mother my
consciousness images of my mother my father my other siblings and my fiance
father my other siblings and my fiance
father my other siblings and my fiance appeared before my eyes and then a
appeared before my eyes and then a
appeared before my eyes and then a graveyard I promised God if you let me
graveyard I promised God if you let me
graveyard I promised God if you let me live I would do good things with my life
live I would do good things with my life
live I would do good things with my life there was so much I had wanted to
there was so much I had wanted to
there was so much I had wanted to accomplish and contribute five hours
accomplish and contribute five hours
accomplish and contribute five hours after I was shot I finally lost
after I was shot I finally lost
after I was shot I finally lost consciousness and was put on life
consciousness and was put on life
consciousness and was put on life support the next thing I remember I was
support the next thing I remember I was
support the next thing I remember I was asking who where am I thinking I had
asking who where am I thinking I had
asking who where am I thinking I had died I ain’t just been waited and when I
died I ain’t just been waited and when I
died I ain’t just been waited and when I heard
heard
heard good morning mr. Bryant here in the
good morning mr. Bryant here in the
good morning mr. Bryant here in the hospital it was one of the most
hospital it was one of the most
hospital it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life my eyes are
beautiful moments of my life my eyes are
beautiful moments of my life my eyes are full of tears not from the pain but from
full of tears not from the pain but from
full of tears not from the pain but from the joy of still being alive but the joy
the joy of still being alive but the joy
the joy of still being alive but the joy did not last long within a few hours the
did not last long within a few hours the
did not last long within a few hours the hospital which was private and expensive
hospital which was private and expensive
hospital which was private and expensive and I didn’t have health insurance at
and I didn’t have health insurance at
and I didn’t have health insurance at that time discharged me and expected I
that time discharged me and expected I
that time discharged me and expected I would arrange follow-up medical
would arrange follow-up medical
would arrange follow-up medical treatments at my own the second part of
treatments at my own the second part of
treatments at my own the second part of my American nightmare just began as a
my American nightmare just began as a
my American nightmare just began as a result of the shooting incident I
result of the shooting incident I
result of the shooting incident I underwent several surgeries
underwent several surgeries
underwent several surgeries unfortunately though I ended up losing
unfortunately though I ended up losing
unfortunately though I ended up losing sight in one eye the right side of my
sight in one eye the right side of my
sight in one eye the right side of my face and head was and remains peppered
face and head was and remains peppered
face and head was and remains peppered with more than three dozen bullet
with more than three dozen bullet
with more than three dozen bullet fragments I lost my home my job my sense
fragments I lost my home my job my sense
fragments I lost my home my job my sense of security and my fiance but gained
of security and my fiance but gained
of security and my fiance but gained more than $60,000 in medical bills
more than $60,000 in medical bills
more than $60,000 in medical bills I reached out to Red Cross
I reached out to Red Cross
I reached out to Red Cross but then for me I was only qualified for
but then for me I was only qualified for
but then for me I was only qualified for one week’s worth of groceries when my
one week’s worth of groceries when my
one week’s worth of groceries when my father heard what happened to me he
father heard what happened to me he
father heard what happened to me he suffered a stroke thankfully he survived
suffered a stroke thankfully he survived
suffered a stroke thankfully he survived I was extremely fortunate
I was extremely fortunate
I was extremely fortunate the gunman mark strowman killed two
the gunman mark strowman killed two
the gunman mark strowman killed two South Asian man
South Asian man
South Asian man during his 911 Italian shooting his pre
during his 911 Italian shooting his pre
during his 911 Italian shooting his pre he claimed he was hunting a rabs
he claimed he was hunting a rabs
he claimed he was hunting a rabs but not one of his three victim was
but not one of his three victim was
but not one of his three victim was Middle Eastern after his arrest he told
Middle Eastern after his arrest he told
Middle Eastern after his arrest he told news media he had done what most
news media he had done what most
news media he had done what most Americans who wanted to do they just
Americans who wanted to do they just
Americans who wanted to do they just didn’t have the guts he claimed he was
didn’t have the guts he claimed he was
didn’t have the guts he claimed he was the true American a patriot he blamed me
the true American a patriot he blamed me
the true American a patriot he blamed me and my kind for 9/11 and he said America
and my kind for 9/11 and he said America
and my kind for 9/11 and he said America is no place for Muslims until I started
is no place for Muslims until I started
is no place for Muslims until I started campaign to try to save his life with
campaign to try to save his life with
campaign to try to save his life with the support of Amnesty International was
the support of Amnesty International was
the support of Amnesty International was the big elephant of America
the big elephant of America
the big elephant of America I ran a campaign to save the life of my
I ran a campaign to save the life of my
I ran a campaign to save the life of my attacker working with reprieve a
attacker working with reprieve a
attacker working with reprieve a london-based nonprofit organization I
london-based nonprofit organization I
london-based nonprofit organization I took my campaign to the European Union
took my campaign to the European Union
took my campaign to the European Union Parliament and German parliament at the
Parliament and German parliament at the
Parliament and German parliament at the headquarter of lundvik the lethal
headquarter of lundvik the lethal
headquarter of lundvik the lethal injection manufacturer in Denmark we
injection manufacturer in Denmark we
injection manufacturer in Denmark we convinced him to write a letter to the
convinced him to write a letter to the
convinced him to write a letter to the governor of Texas not to use their
governor of Texas not to use their
governor of Texas not to use their product to kill human being after our
product to kill human being after our
product to kill human being after our visit lambic also announced that they
visit lambic also announced that they
visit lambic also announced that they would stop supplying this drug to the US
would stop supplying this drug to the US
would stop supplying this drug to the US prisons that carry out executions in the
prisons that carry out executions in the
prisons that carry out executions in the meantime marked him to know a little bit
meantime marked him to know a little bit
meantime marked him to know a little bit about me and the diverse coalition I
about me and the diverse coalition I
about me and the diverse coalition I formed with the help of Muslims Jews
formed with the help of Muslims Jews
formed with the help of Muslims Jews Hindus Christian and atheists who
Hindus Christian and atheists who
Hindus Christian and atheists who rallied together to get him removed from
rallied together to get him removed from
rallied together to get him removed from death row I was told he was stunned he
death row I was told he was stunned he
death row I was told he was stunned he was touched by our efforts this was not
was touched by our efforts this was not
was touched by our efforts this was not something he expected from a Muslim in a
something he expected from a Muslim in a
something he expected from a Muslim in a statement he said
statement he said
statement he said in a free world I was free but I was
in a free world I was free but I was
in a free world I was free but I was locked up in a prison inside myself
locked up in a prison inside myself
locked up in a prison inside myself because of the hate I carried in my
because of the hate I carried in my
because of the hate I carried in my heart it is due to a racist message of
heart it is due to a racist message of
heart it is due to a racist message of forgiveness and more content now than
forgiveness and more content now than
forgiveness and more content now than I’ve ever been
I’ve ever been
I’ve ever been he also wrote a long letter to me where
he also wrote a long letter to me where
he also wrote a long letter to me where he said my stepfather embedded some
he said my stepfather embedded some
he said my stepfather embedded some lessons that I should have never learned
lessons that I should have never learned
lessons that I should have never learned I haven’t learned some of them and I’m
I haven’t learned some of them and I’m
I haven’t learned some of them and I’m still working on some of them I don’t
still working on some of them I don’t
still working on some of them I don’t know who your parents were but it is
know who your parents were but it is
know who your parents were but it is obvious they’re wonderful people to lead
obvious they’re wonderful people to lead
obvious they’re wonderful people to lead you to act this way what happened as a
you to act this way what happened as a
you to act this way what happened as a result of the shooting
result of the shooting
result of the shooting mark was tried and convicted and he was
mark was tried and convicted and he was
mark was tried and convicted and he was sentenced to death by lethal injection
sentenced to death by lethal injection
sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2002 when he heard about my campaign
in 2002 when he heard about my campaign
in 2002 when he heard about my campaign and contribution for the Muslim
and contribution for the Muslim
and contribution for the Muslim community he thanked the entire Muslim
community he thanked the entire Muslim
community he thanked the entire Muslim community condemned his own acts of
community condemned his own acts of
community condemned his own acts of violence and called me brother in a
violence and called me brother in a
violence and called me brother in a phone conversation it moves me
phone conversation it moves me
phone conversation it moves me profoundly to think that the man who
profoundly to think that the man who
profoundly to think that the man who tried to kill me because of the ways in
tried to kill me because of the ways in
tried to kill me because of the ways in which I was different learn to see the
which I was different learn to see the
which I was different learn to see the ways in which we were the same enough to
ways in which we were the same enough to
ways in which we were the same enough to call me brother before he was executed
call me brother before he was executed
call me brother before he was executed his last words were called for an end to
his last words were called for an end to
his last words were called for an end to hatred saying hate is going on
hatred saying hate is going on
hatred saying hate is going on everywhere it has to stop hate causes a
everywhere it has to stop hate causes a
everywhere it has to stop hate causes a lifetime of pain it seems to me that all
lifetime of pain it seems to me that all
lifetime of pain it seems to me that all the retaliation is a natural response it
the retaliation is a natural response it
the retaliation is a natural response it does not make you feel as good as you
does not make you feel as good as you
does not make you feel as good as you think it will any harm you inflate or
think it will any harm you inflate or
think it will any harm you inflate or hopeless inflicted against another human
hopeless inflicted against another human
hopeless inflicted against another human being winds up hurting you too we are
being winds up hurting you too we are
being winds up hurting you too we are all cut from the same cloth when one of
all cut from the same cloth when one of
all cut from the same cloth when one of us bleeds we all bleed when I was able
us bleeds we all bleed when I was able
us bleeds we all bleed when I was able to see mark as a human like me learn
to see mark as a human like me learn
to see mark as a human like me learn more about his life and that he had to I
more about his life and that he had to I
more about his life and that he had to I was able to forgive him and that took
was able to forgive him and that took
was able to forgive him and that took any hint of bitterness away from my
any hint of bitterness away from my
any hint of bitterness away from my heart and allowed me to be whole again
heart and allowed me to be whole again
heart and allowed me to be whole again he hated me when he didn’t know me but
he hated me when he didn’t know me but
he hated me when he didn’t know me but in the end said he loved me
in the end said he loved me
in the end said he loved me once you get to know the other it is
once you get to know the other it is
once you get to know the other it is hard for you to hate them forgiveness
hard for you to hate them forgiveness
hard for you to hate them forgiveness and kindness had a transformative effect
and kindness had a transformative effect
and kindness had a transformative effect on Mark’s Roman life challenges us every
on Mark’s Roman life challenges us every
on Mark’s Roman life challenges us every day I have traveled to many cities and
day I have traveled to many cities and
day I have traveled to many cities and small towns across America that are
small towns across America that are
small towns across America that are going through challenges meeting many
going through challenges meeting many
going through challenges meeting many people struggling to make ends meet
people struggling to make ends meet
people struggling to make ends meet stressed living in fear of the other and
stressed living in fear of the other and
stressed living in fear of the other and looking for change I understand their
looking for change I understand their
looking for change I understand their fear their pain and suffering the other
fear their pain and suffering the other
fear their pain and suffering the other is not the enemy
is not the enemy
is not the enemy ignorance and hate is the enemy and
ignorance and hate is the enemy and
ignorance and hate is the enemy and unfortunately it has created so much
unfortunately it has created so much
unfortunately it has created so much mistrust fear intolerance and keep
mistrust fear intolerance and keep
mistrust fear intolerance and keep continues dividing us if we commit and
continues dividing us if we commit and
continues dividing us if we commit and work together we can overcome the
work together we can overcome the
work together we can overcome the challenges we can overcome the issues
challenges we can overcome the issues
challenges we can overcome the issues that plague in American families in
that plague in American families in
that plague in American families in destroying lives and communities there
destroying lives and communities there
destroying lives and communities there is nothing that America cannot fix
is nothing that America cannot fix
is nothing that America cannot fix together we can build a stronger more
together we can build a stronger more
together we can build a stronger more prosperous and accepting world and in
prosperous and accepting world and in
prosperous and accepting world and in turn compassionate and empathetic human
turn compassionate and empathetic human
turn compassionate and empathetic human being but how do you bring about this
being but how do you bring about this
being but how do you bring about this change as Gandhi said you must be the
change as Gandhi said you must be the
change as Gandhi said you must be the change you want to see in the world I
change you want to see in the world I
change you want to see in the world I wanted this world to be more merciful
wanted this world to be more merciful
wanted this world to be more merciful forgiving and accepting I have suffered
forgiving and accepting I have suffered
forgiving and accepting I have suffered a lot lost a tremendous amount because
a lot lost a tremendous amount because
a lot lost a tremendous amount because of someone else’s head shed but the
of someone else’s head shed but the
of someone else’s head shed but the tragedy helped me to see the possibility
tragedy helped me to see the possibility
tragedy helped me to see the possibility of a world without hate a world full of
of a world without hate a world full of
of a world without hate a world full of love compassion and empathy I could not
love compassion and empathy I could not
love compassion and empathy I could not save the lack of marks Truman but
save the lack of marks Truman but
save the lack of marks Truman but perhaps I can help save feature marks
perhaps I can help save feature marks
perhaps I can help save feature marks Truman through my nonprofit world
Truman through my nonprofit world
Truman through my nonprofit world without hate I dedicated my life working
without hate I dedicated my life working
without hate I dedicated my life working to prevent
to prevent
to prevent ignorant and violence ready getting
ignorant and violence ready getting
ignorant and violence ready getting hatred by educating people about the
hatred by educating people about the
hatred by educating people about the transformational power of mercy and
transformational power of mercy and
transformational power of mercy and forgiveness empowering people to connect
forgiveness empowering people to connect
forgiveness empowering people to connect with others unlike them and to encourage
with others unlike them and to encourage
with others unlike them and to encourage everyone
everyone
everyone to take time from learn one another
to take time from learn one another
to take time from learn one another instead of the stereotypes and labels
instead of the stereotypes and labels
instead of the stereotypes and labels society has imposed I believe we all
society has imposed I believe we all
society has imposed I believe we all want it better just in more forgiving
want it better just in more forgiving
want it better just in more forgiving world but what are we prepared to do to
world but what are we prepared to do to
world but what are we prepared to do to get it I believe it starts within each
get it I believe it starts within each
get it I believe it starts within each of us taking a moment to check where
of us taking a moment to check where
of us taking a moment to check where your moral compass lies take a moment to
your moral compass lies take a moment to
your moral compass lies take a moment to soften your heart make your tone a
soften your heart make your tone a
soften your heart make your tone a little bit friendlier take time to
little bit friendlier take time to
little bit friendlier take time to connect with others unlike you stand up
connect with others unlike you stand up
connect with others unlike you stand up against all manifestations of hate take
against all manifestations of hate take
against all manifestations of hate take a moment to forgive someone who hurt you
a moment to forgive someone who hurt you
a moment to forgive someone who hurt you in the past extend a helping hand
in the past extend a helping hand
in the past extend a helping hand reaching out to your family friends
reaching out to your family friends
reaching out to your family friends neighbors who may be going through some
neighbors who may be going through some
neighbors who may be going through some challenges in a sort of ignoring them
challenges in a sort of ignoring them
challenges in a sort of ignoring them because by doing so you could positively
because by doing so you could positively
because by doing so you could positively affect an event save innocent lives
affect an event save innocent lives
affect an event save innocent lives together we must stand up against human
together we must stand up against human
together we must stand up against human suffering even if we think we may not
suffering even if we think we may not
suffering even if we think we may not like the victims the challenges Muslims
like the victims the challenges Muslims
like the victims the challenges Muslims Jews Mexicans african-americans women
Jews Mexicans african-americans women
Jews Mexicans african-americans women the LGBTQ community and all who are
the LGBTQ community and all who are
the LGBTQ community and all who are suffering right now may not affect your
suffering right now may not affect your
suffering right now may not affect your or your loved ones like today but may
or your loved ones like today but may
or your loved ones like today but may indeed tomorrow I would like to leave
indeed tomorrow I would like to leave
indeed tomorrow I would like to leave you with this as Martin numr the German
you with this as Martin numr the German
you with this as Martin numr the German theologian said at first they came for
theologian said at first they came for
theologian said at first they came for the Communists and I didn’t speak out
the Communists and I didn’t speak out
the Communists and I didn’t speak out because I was not a communist then they
because I was not a communist then they
because I was not a communist then they came for the trade unionist and I did
came for the trade unionist and I did
came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out because I was not a trade
not speak out because I was not a trade
not speak out because I was not a trade unionist then they came for the Jews and
unionist then they came for the Jews and
unionist then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak out because I was not as
I didn’t speak out because I was not as
I didn’t speak out because I was not as you and then they came for me and there
you and then they came for me and there
you and then they came for me and there was no one to speak for me thank you
was no one to speak for me thank you
was no one to speak for me thank you [Applause]
”
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