Bryan Stevenson

They put the shackles back on his ankles.

And I begged them to be gentler.

I said, look, it's not his fault.

It's my fault.

He didn't do anything wrong, but they ignored me.

Then they started shoving this man toward the door, really pushing him.

And it upset me.

I said, please, you don't have to do that.

He didn't do anything wrong, but they ignored me.

And they got that man near the door, and I'll never forget how when he got near the door, he planted his feet.

And when they tried to shove him through the door, he didn't move.

And then he turned to me and he looked at me and he said, Brian, don't worry about this.

You just come back.

And then he did this thing I'll never, ever forget.

I stood there and I watched him close his eyes.

throw his head back, and then he started to sing.

And he started singing this hymn.

He started singing, I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day, still praying as I'm onward bound.

And then he said, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Everybody stopped.