Updated Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

A crowd of approximately 400 people packed into the auditorium at the Muslim Educational Trust and listened, rapt, as Khizr Khan took the stage on Sunday night.

The Gold Star father, whose son Army Capt. Humayun Khan died in the Iraq War, was thrust into the national spotlight after he and his wife Ghazala Khan appeared at the Democratic National Convention.

Famously, Khan asked Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, "Have you even read the Constitution?" and offered to lend Trump his pocket version.

Khan's visit to Tigard Sunday night centered on a speech titled "Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers," where he discussed Islamophobia and democratic ideals.

After Khan was introduced by community leaders and Oregon politicians, he took the stage, overcome with emotion.

"I am overcome with love, courtesy and dignity," he said, thanking the leaders who welcomed him.

He encouraged American Muslims to believe in the democratic process and make their voices heard by voting in November, urging them, "The values of equal dignity in this country need you."

Pocket Constitutions were donated for Khan's visit to Tigard, MET President Wajdi Said said. They were published by the National Center for Constitutional Studies, the same company that produces the document as carried by Ammon Bundy, who with the help of a self-styled militia occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January.

The copies distributed by Muslim community leaders do not include the Bible verses at the center of a controversy that ignited when Bundy's preferred version became a best-selling item on Amazon following Khan's remarks at the DNC.

MET was unaware of the connection between NCCS and the Bundys, MET outreach committee member Mohamed Alyajouri said. The Constitutions were donated to the center by a member who purchased them, he said. NCCS was the only publisher available to provide large quantities of the Constitution on such short notice, Alyajouri said.

Shortly after his talk, Khan sat down with The Oregonian/OregonLive for a Q&A. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

What was it like to be thrust into the national spotlight after your speech at the National Democratic Convention?

"As far as I am concerned, we've had nothing but positive reactions, positive engagement, positive mail in the weeks and months since the Democratic National Convention. It's been a positive experience."

Tonight's event was billed as a conversation. Obviously, what you discussed doesn't just end on Election Day. What happens to the conversation after that?

"Hopefully after Nov. 8, we can think about reconciliation. The division needs to end. The pain needs to heal. Political affiliations aside, this distrust needs to end. Hopefully, both sides will come together to heal the divides."

In Oregon, like much of the country, there are people who don't regularly have this conversation one-on-one with people who share different points of view. What do you say to those who aren't here tonight?

"We live in a democracy, no matter how much some of us might believe to the contrary. The people who are away from this mainstream conversation, be a messenger of patriotism. Of the plurality of America. We must all have a place in this conversation."

Can we talk more about that "messenger of patriotism?" What is patriotism to you?

"To me, it means having the best interest of others at heart. Have the same respect of them I want them to give me. Give them the same courtesy they give me. It means unconditional support of my country and my nation.

I disagree with some of the decisions my country has made. But my support of my country is unconditional. The only way I can change any of it is to participate in the process."

At least half of the questions you took from the audience were from younger people. What message would you like to get to America's youth?

"They are the future leaders, the future custodians of this country. They should learn the values. They can only truly participate once they become aware of these values."

What got you to come to Oregon?

"I had heard so much good about Oregon. About the interfaith community. There are few communities as vibrant -- I am very glad to be here. Every person I have met shows equal dignity. They show generosity and hospitality."

Is there any one point we didn't cover you wanted to get across?

"Make a connection. Move forward together. Because inclusion enlarges the spirit of community."

Eder Campuzano conducted the Q&A with Khizr Khan.

--Samantha Matsumoto

@smatsumoto55

smatsumoto@oregonian.com

This post was updated to add a clarification from MET about how the center obtained the pocket Constitutions.