Bryan Stevenson

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.

It's to position ourselves in places where people are struggling, where people are falling down, where people have lost hope, where people are worried that they can't make it.

Those two words are really powerful.

And just say, I'm here.

You don't even have to have answers after that.

I think just being present, that witness for a lot of people can be transformative.

Thank you.

Our hope is what can sustain us when things look bleak and difficult.

And that is the reason why I believe that hopelessness is the enemy of justice.

Justice will prevail if we allow ourselves to give in to hopelessness.

Hope is our superpower.

It's the thing that will get some of us to stand up even when people say sit down.

It will get some of us to speak even when people say be quiet.