Bryan Stevenson urges graduates to challenge narratives of hate and fear
Acclaimed public-interest attorney Bryan Stevenson called on the Class of 2021 to combat narratives of fear and hate, avoid indifference, and embrace truth during his keynote speech at Brandeis University’s 70th Commencement Exercises on May 23.
“In too many places, we’ve allowed narratives to emerge that have caused us to be indifferent to injustice … the promise I hope you'll make is that you'll commit yourself to changing narratives that sustain inequality, that sustain injustice, that sustain mistreatment and bigotry,” said Stevenson, who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, an Alabama-based nonprofit that combats mass incarceration and represents men and women sentenced to death, and children and adults facing long prison sentences.