[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] Wow so the first time that I was ever
Wow so the first time that I was ever
Wow so the first time that I was ever here in the Carolinas I found my way to
here in the Carolinas I found my way to
here in the Carolinas I found my way to the frontlines of protests that were
the frontlines of protests that were
the frontlines of protests that were unfolding in Charlotte and I knew that
unfolding in Charlotte and I knew that
unfolding in Charlotte and I knew that there was going to be a need for a
there was going to be a need for a
there was going to be a need for a peacekeeper and someone to step in as a
peacekeeper and someone to step in as a
peacekeeper and someone to step in as a leader in the midst of such a volatile
leader in the midst of such a volatile
leader in the midst of such a volatile situation that was unfolding there and
situation that was unfolding there and
situation that was unfolding there and you know it’s very difficult going in
you know it’s very difficult going in
you know it’s very difficult going in especially being from California and
especially being from California and
especially being from California and showing up in Charlotte on the front
showing up in Charlotte on the front
showing up in Charlotte on the front lines and not knowing anyone there and
lines and not knowing anyone there and
lines and not knowing anyone there and there’s hundreds of protesters all
there’s hundreds of protesters all
there’s hundreds of protesters all downtown and the police had set up their
downtown and the police had set up their
downtown and the police had set up their their lines and you know as I was
their lines and you know as I was
their lines and you know as I was running in to the the protest everyone
running in to the the protest everyone
running in to the the protest everyone was running out because a protester had
was running out because a protester had
was running out because a protester had just been shot in the face by another
just been shot in the face by another
just been shot in the face by another protestor and so the anger and the
protestor and so the anger and the
protestor and so the anger and the tension that was unfolding there that
tension that was unfolding there that
tension that was unfolding there that night it was unlike any other protest I
night it was unlike any other protest I
night it was unlike any other protest I had ever been to before and so right
had ever been to before and so right
had ever been to before and so right away I tried to create a barrier between
away I tried to create a barrier between
away I tried to create a barrier between the police and the protesters because
the police and the protesters because
the police and the protesters because people were throwing bottles and rocks
people were throwing bottles and rocks
people were throwing bottles and rocks and bricks at the police officers and so
and bricks at the police officers and so
and bricks at the police officers and so I decided well I’ll try to open up and
I decided well I’ll try to open up and
I decided well I’ll try to open up and engage in some dialogue with some people
engage in some dialogue with some people
engage in some dialogue with some people and stand there on the front lines and
and stand there on the front lines and
and stand there on the front lines and so you know that night there were a
so you know that night there were a
so you know that night there were a number of police lines like that they
number of police lines like that they
number of police lines like that they were blocking a number of the
were blocking a number of the
were blocking a number of the intersections and it became very tough
intersections and it became very tough
intersections and it became very tough to communicate when you have hundreds of
to communicate when you have hundreds of
to communicate when you have hundreds of people not only shouting but throwing
people not only shouting but throwing
people not only shouting but throwing things and so I decided I was going to
things and so I decided I was going to
things and so I decided I was going to try to lead by recruiting other
try to lead by recruiting other
try to lead by recruiting other peacekeepers there on the front lines
peacekeepers there on the front lines
peacekeepers there on the front lines and so oftentimes when I show up at
and so oftentimes when I show up at
and so oftentimes when I show up at these things I try and identify who’s
these things I try and identify who’s
these things I try and identify who’s the biggest scariest looking guy that’s
the biggest scariest looking guy that’s
the biggest scariest looking guy that’s there on the front lines and say hey I’m
there on the front lines and say hey I’m
there on the front lines and say hey I’m going to need you on my side just in
going to need you on my side just in
going to need you on my side just in case things get really out of hand I’m a
case things get really out of hand I’m a
case things get really out of hand I’m a slim guy but together you know enough of
slim guy but together you know enough of
slim guy but together you know enough of us can keep the peace out here
us can keep the peace out here
us can keep the peace out here and so there was a gentleman who was
and so there was a gentleman who was
and so there was a gentleman who was standing on the side I watched that
standing on the side I watched that
standing on the side I watched that someone bumped into him and he said hey
someone bumped into him and he said hey
someone bumped into him and he said hey and then the guy he apologized the
and then the guy he apologized the
and then the guy he apologized the number of times and he just stood there
number of times and he just stood there
number of times and he just stood there I figured okay that’s the guy that I
I figured okay that’s the guy that I
I figured okay that’s the guy that I want on my side because they they
want on my side because they they
want on my side because they they respect this guy and so I went and found
respect this guy and so I went and found
respect this guy and so I went and found him and I got him to throw up the peace
him and I got him to throw up the peace
him and I got him to throw up the peace sign as well and try to call the crowd
sign as well and try to call the crowd
sign as well and try to call the crowd and in doing so if you notice we’re
and in doing so if you notice we’re
and in doing so if you notice we’re standing under an overpass there and as
standing under an overpass there and as
standing under an overpass there and as he’s got his peace sign up I noticed
he’s got his peace sign up I noticed
he’s got his peace sign up I noticed that there were a number of protesters
that there were a number of protesters
that there were a number of protesters three guys that had picked up one of
three guys that had picked up one of
three guys that had picked up one of those cement parking stops when you go
those cement parking stops when you go
those cement parking stops when you go to park a car and they were going up to
to park a car and they were going up to
to park a car and they were going up to the overpass and they were planning to
the overpass and they were planning to
the overpass and they were planning to drop the cement block down on the row of
drop the cement block down on the row of
drop the cement block down on the row of officers that were beneath us and so I
officers that were beneath us and so I
officers that were beneath us and so I rush over there and I’m shouting at them
rush over there and I’m shouting at them
rush over there and I’m shouting at them saying hey man you guys know that if you
saying hey man you guys know that if you
saying hey man you guys know that if you drop that on the cops down there you’re
drop that on the cops down there you’re
drop that on the cops down there you’re probably going to kill a couple of
probably going to kill a couple of
probably going to kill a couple of officers and they said that’s right they
officers and they said that’s right they
officers and they said that’s right they took one of ours so we’re going to take
took one of ours so we’re going to take
took one of ours so we’re going to take two of theirs
two of theirs
two of theirs and it really made me realize that this
and it really made me realize that this
and it really made me realize that this whole back and forth violence we’re
whole back and forth violence we’re
whole back and forth violence we’re never going to be able to solve anything
never going to be able to solve anything
never going to be able to solve anything without open dialog of peacekeepers
without open dialog of peacekeepers
without open dialog of peacekeepers being there on the front lines and so
being there on the front lines and so
being there on the front lines and so the entire night I’m running around
the entire night I’m running around
the entire night I’m running around trying to put out small fires literally
trying to put out small fires literally
trying to put out small fires literally – they were actually fires being set as
– they were actually fires being set as
– they were actually fires being set as well as just the things that were
well as just the things that were
well as just the things that were unfolding there and you know it was
unfolding there and you know it was
unfolding there and you know it was difficult being a stranger in that town
difficult being a stranger in that town
difficult being a stranger in that town and trying to have a voice but I was
and trying to have a voice but I was
and trying to have a voice but I was surprised that it worked out and
surprised that it worked out and
surprised that it worked out and fortunately there was a police officer
fortunately there was a police officer
fortunately there was a police officer who recognized me as I was walking by
who recognized me as I was walking by
who recognized me as I was walking by and he had asked me for a hug and that
and he had asked me for a hug and that
and he had asked me for a hug and that moment kind of turned things around
moment kind of turned things around
moment kind of turned things around where the protesters who were
where the protesters who were
where the protesters who were cooperating with me and listening to me
cooperating with me and listening to me
cooperating with me and listening to me for some time they saw me as a traitor
for some time they saw me as a traitor
for some time they saw me as a traitor because I hugged this riot police
because I hugged this riot police
because I hugged this riot police officer that was in full gear and in
officer that was in full gear and in
officer that was in full gear and in doing so you know they start shouting
doing so you know they start shouting
doing so you know they start shouting back and forth at at the cops they’re
back and forth at at the cops they’re
back and forth at at the cops they’re disrespecting me calling me a sellout
disrespecting me calling me a sellout
disrespecting me calling me a sellout and all sorts of things and I knew that
and all sorts of things and I knew that
and all sorts of things and I knew that at that moment I could either rush back
at that moment I could either rush back
at that moment I could either rush back to my car and hurry up
to my car and hurry up
to my car and hurry up out of there I can stand and fight for
out of there I can stand and fight for
out of there I can stand and fight for peace and so in doing so I really I’d
peace and so in doing so I really I’d
peace and so in doing so I really I’d well I had to match their voice level so
well I had to match their voice level so
well I had to match their voice level so I wouldn’t necessarily say I was
I wouldn’t necessarily say I was
I wouldn’t necessarily say I was shouting at them but whatever was
shouting at them but whatever was
shouting at them but whatever was shouting at you you can’t be very timid
shouting at you you can’t be very timid
shouting at you you can’t be very timid in trying to respond to them so as I’m
in trying to respond to them so as I’m
in trying to respond to them so as I’m responding to them I was able to
responding to them I was able to
responding to them I was able to actually deescalate that situation and
actually deescalate that situation and
actually deescalate that situation and get them to stop throwing rocks and
get them to stop throwing rocks and
get them to stop throwing rocks and things at the police officers and so you
things at the police officers and so you
things at the police officers and so you know so we hugged it out things were
know so we hugged it out things were
know so we hugged it out things were cool between myself and the officer but
cool between myself and the officer but
cool between myself and the officer but actually even these protesters who
actually even these protesters who
actually even these protesters who wanted to fight me at a point we
wanted to fight me at a point we
wanted to fight me at a point we eventually shook hands and hugged it out
eventually shook hands and hugged it out
eventually shook hands and hugged it out as well and I was able to bring the
as well and I was able to bring the
as well and I was able to bring the peace to that situation and I realized
peace to that situation and I realized
peace to that situation and I realized that you know it doesn’t take much to be
that you know it doesn’t take much to be
that you know it doesn’t take much to be a leader when you show up in the
a leader when you show up in the
a leader when you show up in the situation just being able to really turn
situation just being able to really turn
situation just being able to really turn people around through dialogue and
people around through dialogue and
people around through dialogue and positive interaction and communication
positive interaction and communication
positive interaction and communication and so I always encourage people to you
and so I always encourage people to you
and so I always encourage people to you know when you’re in a situation where
know when you’re in a situation where
know when you’re in a situation where there’s a leader that’s needed never
there’s a leader that’s needed never
there’s a leader that’s needed never hesitate to rise up and be that person I
hesitate to rise up and be that person I
hesitate to rise up and be that person I think we often look around trying to
think we often look around trying to
think we often look around trying to find well is someone going to step up
find well is someone going to step up
find well is someone going to step up and try to calm this down oh the police
and try to calm this down oh the police
and try to calm this down oh the police are here is someone going to calm this
are here is someone going to calm this
are here is someone going to calm this situation down and you know so this
situation down and you know so this
situation down and you know so this situation that took place here it always
situation that took place here it always
situation that took place here it always reminds me of a story that I heard back
reminds me of a story that I heard back
reminds me of a story that I heard back at September 11th actually and we all
at September 11th actually and we all
at September 11th actually and we all remember the images of the planes that
remember the images of the planes that
remember the images of the planes that hit the two towers and the plane that
hit the two towers and the plane that
hit the two towers and the plane that hit the the Pentagon but what we don’t
hit the the Pentagon but what we don’t
hit the the Pentagon but what we don’t see is a plane that hit the Capitol
see is a plane that hit the Capitol
see is a plane that hit the Capitol building and the reason why we don’t see
building and the reason why we don’t see
building and the reason why we don’t see that is because of a leader in a hero
that is because of a leader in a hero
that is because of a leader in a hero who stepped up that was on one of the
who stepped up that was on one of the
who stepped up that was on one of the planes as he took a phone call from his
planes as he took a phone call from his
planes as he took a phone call from his wife and some of you may know this story
wife and some of you may know this story
wife and some of you may know this story and for those of you that don’t
and for those of you that don’t
and for those of you that don’t there was a gentleman or a number of
there was a gentleman or a number of
there was a gentleman or a number of gentlemen that were on flight 93 that
gentlemen that were on flight 93 that
gentlemen that were on flight 93 that was headed for either the Capitol
was headed for either the Capitol
was headed for either the Capitol building or the White House and there
building or the White House and there
building or the White House and there was a gentleman on the phone who called
was a gentleman on the phone who called
was a gentleman on the phone who called his wife in the uim nor he let her know
his wife in the uim nor he let her know
his wife in the uim nor he let her know that his plane had been hijacked and she
that his plane had been hijacked and she
that his plane had been hijacked and she said yeah and they’re using those planes
said yeah and they’re using those planes
said yeah and they’re using those planes to hit targets and he said well they
to hit targets and he said well they
to hit targets and he said well they turned our plane around that was headed
turned our plane around that was headed
turned our plane around that was headed for San Francisco and their enroute back
for San Francisco and their enroute back
for San Francisco and their enroute back to the east
to the east
to the east host and they told us that there’s a
host and they told us that there’s a
host and they told us that there’s a bomb on board and they’ve already
bomb on board and they’ve already
bomb on board and they’ve already stabbed someone on the plane and so you
stabbed someone on the plane and so you
stabbed someone on the plane and so you know she had let him know well
know she had let him know well
know she had let him know well don’t draw any attention to yourself
don’t draw any attention to yourself
don’t draw any attention to yourself just have a seat be quiet and you know
just have a seat be quiet and you know
just have a seat be quiet and you know things would be okay and he realized at
things would be okay and he realized at
things would be okay and he realized at that moment that things aren’t going to
that moment that things aren’t going to
that moment that things aren’t going to be okay and he needed to step up as a
be okay and he needed to step up as a
be okay and he needed to step up as a leader to make sure that that plane
leader to make sure that that plane
leader to make sure that that plane wasn’t going to hit the target and you
wasn’t going to hit the target and you
wasn’t going to hit the target and you know as I read through the telephone
know as I read through the telephone
know as I read through the telephone transcripts of what that call was like
transcripts of what that call was like
transcripts of what that call was like it broke my heart as he asked his wife
it broke my heart as he asked his wife
it broke my heart as he asked his wife where are the kids and she said they’re
where are the kids and she said they’re
where are the kids and she said they’re having breakfast and she said they’d
having breakfast and she said they’d
having breakfast and she said they’d like to talk to you and he said no not
like to talk to you and he said no not
like to talk to you and he said no not right now we’re going to take this plane
right now we’re going to take this plane
right now we’re going to take this plane back and in doing so he rallied up the
back and in doing so he rallied up the
back and in doing so he rallied up the support of a few other men that were
support of a few other men that were
support of a few other men that were there on the plane and the recorder one
there on the plane and the recorder one
there on the plane and the recorder one of the the last things that they heard
of the the last things that they heard
of the the last things that they heard was the as the guys had rallied up and
was the as the guys had rallied up and
was the as the guys had rallied up and they were trying to get through the
they were trying to get through the
they were trying to get through the doors to fight the terrorists and you
doors to fight the terrorists and you
doors to fight the terrorists and you can hear the terrorists shouting hold
can hear the terrorists shouting hold
can hear the terrorists shouting hold the doors because there’s men trying to
the doors because there’s men trying to
the doors because there’s men trying to get in here and then you hear the
get in here and then you hear the
get in here and then you hear the fighting and then you know they were
fighting and then you know they were
fighting and then you know they were able to prevent that plane from hitting
able to prevent that plane from hitting
able to prevent that plane from hitting the Capitol building there and you know
the Capitol building there and you know
the Capitol building there and you know the the famous words that I always
the the famous words that I always
the the famous words that I always remember from them was the okay you guys
remember from them was the okay you guys
remember from them was the okay you guys ready let’s roll and it took that
ready let’s roll and it took that
ready let’s roll and it took that leadership of someone being able to step
leadership of someone being able to step
leadership of someone being able to step up and say these planes are being used
up and say these planes are being used
up and say these planes are being used as weapons to kill people and thousands
as weapons to kill people and thousands
as weapons to kill people and thousands of people were killed there but a leader
of people were killed there but a leader
of people were killed there but a leader was able to step up and not only fight
was able to step up and not only fight
was able to step up and not only fight for peace and be brave but to make sure
for peace and be brave but to make sure
for peace and be brave but to make sure that they were saving the lives of other
that they were saving the lives of other
that they were saving the lives of other Americans and so in recent weeks now I
Americans and so in recent weeks now I
Americans and so in recent weeks now I found myself out on the front lines of
found myself out on the front lines of
found myself out on the front lines of protests again in Washington DC that
protests again in Washington DC that
protests again in Washington DC that were taking place outside the
were taking place outside the
were taking place outside the inauguration and same thing now I
inauguration and same thing now I
inauguration and same thing now I figured okay now I’m here in Washington
figured okay now I’m here in Washington
figured okay now I’m here in Washington DC and that was my first time ever in my
DC and that was my first time ever in my
DC and that was my first time ever in my life being in Washington DC and same
life being in Washington DC and same
life being in Washington DC and same thing people are throwing rocks and
thing people are throwing rocks and
thing people are throwing rocks and bottles and bricks actually at the
bottles and bricks actually at the
bottles and bricks actually at the police officers there and I knew a
police officers there and I knew a
police officers there and I knew a peacekeeper is going to be needed and
peacekeeper is going to be needed and
peacekeeper is going to be needed and someone’s going to have to take charge
someone’s going to have to take charge
someone’s going to have to take charge and be a leader at these protests where
and be a leader at these protests where
and be a leader at these protests where things are just out of
things are just out of
things are just out of and so same thing that day I rallied up
and so same thing that day I rallied up
and so same thing that day I rallied up the support of other men that were
the support of other men that were
the support of other men that were standing around in Washington DC and let
standing around in Washington DC and let
standing around in Washington DC and let them know you know all these bricks that
them know you know all these bricks that
them know you know all these bricks that were seen on the ground and trash cans
were seen on the ground and trash cans
were seen on the ground and trash cans and bottles that are being thrown at
and bottles that are being thrown at
and bottles that are being thrown at these police officers we can stand as a
these police officers we can stand as a
these police officers we can stand as a barrier to prevent things from being
barrier to prevent things from being
barrier to prevent things from being thrown at the police and we can go and
thrown at the police and we can go and
thrown at the police and we can go and talk to the protesters as well to try to
talk to the protesters as well to try to
talk to the protesters as well to try to bring peace and deescalate that
bring peace and deescalate that
bring peace and deescalate that situation and you know I’m just one slim
situation and you know I’m just one slim
situation and you know I’m just one slim guy if it shows up at these things and
guy if it shows up at these things and
guy if it shows up at these things and I’m able to sometimes turn the situation
I’m able to sometimes turn the situation
I’m able to sometimes turn the situation around just by not only opening up
around just by not only opening up
around just by not only opening up dialogue and communication but rising to
dialogue and communication but rising to
dialogue and communication but rising to the call when a leader is needed and
the call when a leader is needed and
the call when a leader is needed and someone needed to be able to bring peace
someone needed to be able to bring peace
someone needed to be able to bring peace to these situations and you know I look
to these situations and you know I look
to these situations and you know I look at all of the people around not only in
at all of the people around not only in
at all of the people around not only in this room but across the nation and I
this room but across the nation and I
this room but across the nation and I see how much we’re all calling for
see how much we’re all calling for
see how much we’re all calling for change and it just seems like we’re all
change and it just seems like we’re all
change and it just seems like we’re all waiting for that leader to rise up
waiting for that leader to rise up
waiting for that leader to rise up everyone as certain is in search of a
everyone as certain is in search of a
everyone as certain is in search of a leader but we’re not looking within
leader but we’re not looking within
leader but we’re not looking within ourselves to be that leader and there’s
ourselves to be that leader and there’s
ourselves to be that leader and there’s a countless amount of followers of very
a countless amount of followers of very
a countless amount of followers of very few leaders in this world that are
few leaders in this world that are
few leaders in this world that are really willing to step up and create
really willing to step up and create
really willing to step up and create change and so now when I travel around I
change and so now when I travel around I
change and so now when I travel around I always encourage people you know you can
always encourage people you know you can
always encourage people you know you can change the world and you can create the
change the world and you can create the
change the world and you can create the change that you want to see rather than
change that you want to see rather than
change that you want to see rather than saying I wish that guy would step up and
saying I wish that guy would step up and
saying I wish that guy would step up and do something or being in a situation and
do something or being in a situation and
do something or being in a situation and saying I hope that woman is going to say
saying I hope that woman is going to say
saying I hope that woman is going to say something why not you be that person and
something why not you be that person and
something why not you be that person and step up and do it and we can make this
step up and do it and we can make this
step up and do it and we can make this world a better place thank you
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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