Bryan Stevenson

And then she said in one loud voice this last time to the whole courtroom, she said, I'm here.

And it became clear to me then what she was saying.

She wasn't saying I'm physically present.

She was saying I may be old, I may be poor, I may be Black, but I've got this vision of justice that compels me to stand up to injustice.

And I have the great

the great joy of witnessing that kind of courage, that kind of strength.

When we ultimately won Mr. McMillan's release, there was a whole crowd of people there.

The first person he went to was Ms.

Williams.

He said, Ms.

Williams, I'm here because you were there for me.

She said, I'll always be there for you.

And so I feel like I can't be turned around by threats and violence by people who are angry and hateful.

Because however vulnerable I am, I'm less vulnerable than a lot of people who have to deal with the reality of these problems in these communities.

And

I want to be like the people I meet.

I want to be like Ms.

Williams.

I want to be somebody who, when there's inequality and injustice, when there's suffering and oppression, has the courage to say, I'm here.

And to me, that's the most extraordinary thing we can sometimes do.