Stevenson captivated the audience with stories full of personal anecdotes and insights from his decades-long fight for justice in the American legal system. He spoke about his encounter with an icon like Rosa Parks, his tireless dedication to death row inmates, and his mission to defend disadvantaged children who are prosecuted as adults. Through his words, Stevenson urged the audience not only to face the harsh reality of systemic injustice but also to actively participate in the change.
"Martin Luther King's inspiring values of justice and hope are timeless, and they are particularly important for us right now"
Before Stevenson began, however, VU Amsterdam chair Margrethe Jonkman mentioned social justice and hope as inspiring values when thinking of Martin Luther King. "They are timeless, and they are particularly important for us right now." Dave Ensbergen-Kleijkers added: "There is so much polarisation. What we need now is connection, human connection from the soul, and Martin Luther King can still guide us. Even after his death, he lives on in us. Stand up and do what is right."
A touching moment occurred when Yayley-Ann and Ginaida from primary school De Knotwilg in Amsterdam Southeast recited a poem addressing the themes of the evening. They earnestly spoke about hope, justice, and freedom, striking a chord with the audience within a minute. The hope for the future was literally on stage.
"The decolonial agenda, which acknowledges the existence of racism and advocates for radical equality, has ended before it even began"
Shefali Razdan Duggal, the US ambassador to the Netherlands, introduced Stevenson’s keynote. Her connection to the subject was evident in her introduction. "My deeply held values are immediately evident as soon as someone enters my embassy. The Reverend Dr. King, along with Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, President Abraham Lincoln, and President John F. Kennedy, are prominently displayed at the entrance."
Guno Jones, holder of the Anton de Kom chair, reflected on the topic by discussing the decolonial agenda, which is under pressure in the current political climate despite the government and the king's apologies for the slavery past. "It seems that on the political front, the decolonial agenda, which acknowledges the existence of racism and advocates for radical equality, has ended before it even began."
Returning to Bryan Stevenson.
His discussion of his work with death row clients was deeply moving. He shared stories about defending people sentenced to death, often wrongfully, in a system marked by racial and economic disparities. His words were not only a legal critique but also a moral one. Stevenson spoke passionately about the profound injustice that allows the state to take the lives of those who are poor, marginalised, and too often innocent. His work with the EJI has exposed the flaws in the death penalty and the deep dehumanisation that occurs when justice is pursued without empathy or understanding.
Stevenson’s appeal extended beyond adults on death row. He highlighted the injustice of trying minors as adults, a practice that disproportionately affects children of colour from disadvantaged backgrounds. Stevenson painted a harrowing picture of young children, some as young as 13, being sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He emphasised that no child should be defined by the worst mistake they have made and that the justice system should allow space for rehabilitation and redemption, especially for young people. The stories deeply touched the audience, and you could hear a pin drop.
Stevenson is not one to adhere to the school of professional distance
What stood out in his language, his voice, his entire demeanour, was the intense compassion for his clients. Stevenson does not subscribe to the school of professional distance. According to him, you cannot achieve anything that way. He spoke about four principles that he considers essential to changing the world: proximity, changing the narrative, maintaining hope, and doing uncomfortable things.
"Hope is not a preference for optimism, but an inner disposition with the willingness to sometimes bear witness to a hopeless situation"
Firstly, he stressed the importance of being close to those who are suffering in order to truly understand their struggle. "We will hear things that give us the strength to do what is just." Secondly, he urged the audience to break the harmful societal narratives - especially around race, poverty, and crime - that perpetuate injustice. "These narratives fuel fear and anger; they create hardship, tragedy, and cruelty. We need an era of truth and justice, repair and reconciliation."
Thirdly, Stevenson spoke about the need for hope, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. "Hope is the superpower we possess. It is not a preference for optimism, but an inner disposition with the willingness to sometimes bear witness to a hopeless situation." Finally, he encouraged everyone to embrace discomfort, to be willing to take risks and stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Show courage and boldness by bringing up uncomfortable topics.
For many in the audience, Stevenson’s lecture was more than a speech; it was a deeply human call to action, a prompt to become part of the movement for change.
"And the truth is that when you are proximate, when you change narratives, when you are hopeful, when you do the uncomfortable things, there will be moments when you feel injured, broken, and overwhelmed. And what I want to say to you, with the memory and legacy of Dr. King in mind, is that you should not fear that, because it is the broken among us who can sometimes teach us what humanity truly means. It is the broken who can teach us what it means to be healed. It is the broken who can teach us what it means to be mended. In brokenness, we discover our shared humanity."
The Martin Luther King Lecture is made possible by Stichting Martin Luther King Lezing, VUvereniging and the Diversity Office of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Photos: Peter Valckx
