BUCKHANNON — On Friday, Asad Khan, 18, announced his candidacy for Buckhannon City Council. Khan is a staunch democrat, a local critic of President Donald Trump, and a member of the Islamic faith. If successful, he will be the first Muslim to locally serve in an elected city governmental position.
On his official campaign website, Khan’s campaign expressed that he is running because of the “hate” he has seen in the Buckhannon community.
“Asad Derya Khan is a man of the people! His years of experience working in the community has him primed to enter the political arena. Dealing with and seeing hate with some residents and our fur babies, Khan is ready to make a positive change. The lives of our families, our seniors, our young people, and our pets, are at stake. Asad Derya Khan is taking to politics! It’s this intense dedication, passion, and devotion that fuels his fight for change.”
Prior to his campaign announcement, Khan also deactivated his personal Facebook account that contained numerous derogatory messages directed at conservative members of the community.
On his original social media account, Khan shared, “In America, you’re more likely to be killed by a Trump Supporter than a Muslim terrorist.”
Khan even called a small street rally of Trump supporters in downtown Buckhannon a “Klans people gathering,” “Nazi gathering,” consisting of “idiots, racists” and “bigots.” This particular gathering was also attended by his campaign manager Beth Day.
Documentation of these controversial remarks was obtained exclusively by Mountaineer Journal.