The summer’s almost over – time to read one last book on the beach. If you’re looking for inspirational reading about the great power of the legal system, check out Bryan Stevenson’s memoir, Just Mercy. Stevenson is a death-row attorney whose stories about working with inmates are fascinating and inspiring.
Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery, Alabama. In addition to working on death penalty cases, the EJI promotes racial justice, fights mass incarceration, and helps children in prison.
AALL Keynote – Social Recap
Stevenson was the keynote speaker at this year’s American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting. Librarians at this national conference were excited to read his book and share quotes from his keynote address on twitter:
This is the first time I had to read homework to prepare for the keynote. https://t.co/Nz9Lm6SGIE #AALL17
— Debbie Ginsberg (@debgpi) July 16, 2017
“Proximity made me passionate.” Bryan Stevenson #aall17
— Debbie Ginsberg (@debgpi) July 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/eveross/status/886602958384844801
Stevenson: There's power in brokeness. That's how we understand how to be human. There's a community & fellowship in it #AALL17
— Christine George (@_cageorge) July 16, 2017
"The opposite of poverty is not wealth: it's justice." #AALL17 #keynote
— Jill A. Smith (@jaslawlib) July 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/JeffPfeifer/status/886604019359252480
Keep beating the drum for justice ! #aall17
— Debbie Ginsberg (@debgpi) July 16, 2017
More quotes in this wrap-up:
Quotes and reactions from @eji_org founder and director Bryan Stevenson's inspirational @aallnet keynote #aall17 https://t.co/ZmCpkXjwwr
— LexBlog (@LexBlog) July 16, 2017
Cool to see @eji_org's Bryan Stevenson message on justice touching souls of @aallnet members. Line to buy his book goes on forever. #aall17 pic.twitter.com/mI2qLwF7hc
— Kevin O'Keefe (@kevinokeefe) July 16, 2017
TED Talk Video
Unfortunately, his full AALL conference speech isn’t available to the public, but you can watch his TED talk about injustice:
