[Applause] I’d like you to imagine for a moment
I’d like you to imagine for a moment
I’d like you to imagine for a moment that you are a 38 year old man from
that you are a 38 year old man from
that you are a 38 year old man from Syria who has watched your country
Syria who has watched your country
Syria who has watched your country dissolve into horror and war around you
dissolve into horror and war around you
dissolve into horror and war around you you escaped just over a year ago into
you escaped just over a year ago into
you escaped just over a year ago into Turkey where you’ve actually been
Turkey where you’ve actually been
Turkey where you’ve actually been providing services to other refugees
providing services to other refugees
providing services to other refugees while you go through the extensive
while you go through the extensive
while you go through the extensive vetting process to seek asylum in the
vetting process to seek asylum in the
vetting process to seek asylum in the United States
United States
United States your wife is actually already living in
your wife is actually already living in
your wife is actually already living in Long Beach California because she got
Long Beach California because she got
Long Beach California because she got asylum last year and she’s there with
asylum last year and she’s there with
asylum last year and she’s there with your two year old son who’s a United
your two year old son who’s a United
your two year old son who’s a United States citizen and whom you’ve met only
States citizen and whom you’ve met only
States citizen and whom you’ve met only once you finally get the news that
once you finally get the news that
once you finally get the news that you’re approved and you book your flight
you’re approved and you book your flight
you’re approved and you book your flight from Istanbul to Los Angeles for January
from Istanbul to Los Angeles for January
from Istanbul to Los Angeles for January 29th 2017
29th 2017
29th 2017 now unbeknownst to you just two days
now unbeknownst to you just two days
now unbeknownst to you just two days prior the new president of the United
prior the new president of the United
prior the new president of the United States has signed an executive order
States has signed an executive order
States has signed an executive order that put into place the first Muslim
that put into place the first Muslim
that put into place the first Muslim travel ban so by the time you arrive at
travel ban so by the time you arrive at
travel ban so by the time you arrive at the Istanbul Airport you are swept up in
the Istanbul Airport you are swept up in
the Istanbul Airport you are swept up in the worldwide chaos that has ensued and
the worldwide chaos that has ensued and
the worldwide chaos that has ensued and nothing is clear except that no airline
nothing is clear except that no airline
nothing is clear except that no airline will allow you to board a flight to the
will allow you to board a flight to the
will allow you to board a flight to the United States I became connected to this
United States I became connected to this
United States I became connected to this young man and his story just about a
young man and his story just about a
young man and his story just about a year ago today in the days just after
year ago today in the days just after
year ago today in the days just after the Muslim travel ban I was part of an
the Muslim travel ban I was part of an
the Muslim travel ban I was part of an international group of attorneys and
international group of attorneys and
international group of attorneys and advocates and elected officials
advocates and elected officials
advocates and elected officials connected only by email but fighting to
connected only by email but fighting to
connected only by email but fighting to reunite him with his family you see
reunite him with his family you see
reunite him with his family you see something kind of amazing happened with
something kind of amazing happened with
something kind of amazing happened with lawyers last January like maybe you saw
lawyers last January like maybe you saw
lawyers last January like maybe you saw some of the news footage of lawyers of
some of the news footage of lawyers of
some of the news footage of lawyers of all people camped out at airports
all people camped out at airports
all people camped out at airports working overnight on laptops they
working overnight on laptops they
working overnight on laptops they flooded by the thousands into airports
flooded by the thousands into airports
flooded by the thousands into airports around the world to provide legal help
around the world to provide legal help
around the world to provide legal help to passengers and families impacted by
to passengers and families impacted by
to passengers and families impacted by the travel ban lawyers became first
the travel ban lawyers became first
the travel ban lawyers became first responders and for this brief moment in
responders and for this brief moment in
responders and for this brief moment in time centuries of lawyer jokes were set
time centuries of lawyer jokes were set
time centuries of lawyer jokes were set aside
aside
aside well I had the American easing privilege
well I had the American easing privilege
well I had the American easing privilege of being one of these lawyers helping to
of being one of these lawyers helping to
of being one of these lawyers helping to coordinate the legal clinics that popped
coordinate the legal clinics that popped
coordinate the legal clinics that popped up overnight at the Los Angeles and San
up overnight at the Los Angeles and San
up overnight at the Los Angeles and San Francisco international terminals you
Francisco international terminals you
Francisco international terminals you see I became a lawyer specifically to
see I became a lawyer specifically to
see I became a lawyer specifically to fight for the rights of people like this
fight for the rights of people like this
fight for the rights of people like this young man and his family and I share his
young man and his family and I share his
young man and his family and I share his story with you today because it is one
story with you today because it is one
story with you today because it is one example among many of the promise of the
example among many of the promise of the
example among many of the promise of the American civil justice system and also
American civil justice system and also
American civil justice system and also because I’m here to tell you that in
because I’m here to tell you that in
because I’m here to tell you that in this moment in time in our country’s
this moment in time in our country’s
this moment in time in our country’s history that system needs your
history that system needs your
history that system needs your generation to be aware to be informed
generation to be aware to be informed
generation to be aware to be informed and to be active watchdogs to protect it
and to be active watchdogs to protect it
and to be active watchdogs to protect it now I need you to set aside for a moment
now I need you to set aside for a moment
now I need you to set aside for a moment everything that you know about the
everything that you know about the
everything that you know about the criminal justice system because we’re
criminal justice system because we’re
criminal justice system because we’re going to talk about the other side about
going to talk about the other side about
going to talk about the other side about civil justice and the best way that I
civil justice and the best way that I
civil justice and the best way that I can think about civil justice is it’s
can think about civil justice is it’s
can think about civil justice is it’s this beautiful promise that we actually
this beautiful promise that we actually
this beautiful promise that we actually make to each other about how we’ll
make to each other about how we’ll
make to each other about how we’ll handle things when we disagree so if I
handle things when we disagree so if I
handle things when we disagree so if I ran from a landlord who refuses to fix
ran from a landlord who refuses to fix
ran from a landlord who refuses to fix the broken toilet in my apartment and
the broken toilet in my apartment and
the broken toilet in my apartment and it’s spewing raw sewage back into my
it’s spewing raw sewage back into my
it’s spewing raw sewage back into my bathroom well we don’t handle that
bathroom well we don’t handle that
bathroom well we don’t handle that disagreement by resorting to our own
disagreement by resorting to our own
disagreement by resorting to our own means me wrecking the apartment out of
means me wrecking the apartment out of
means me wrecking the apartment out of anger or him showing up with a baseball
anger or him showing up with a baseball
anger or him showing up with a baseball bat to violently throw me out or to
bat to violently throw me out or to
bat to violently throw me out or to intimidate me into silence instead in
intimidate me into silence instead in
intimidate me into silence instead in this country we agreed to hand that
this country we agreed to hand that
this country we agreed to hand that whole disagreement over to an outside
whole disagreement over to an outside
whole disagreement over to an outside third-party decision maker a judge and a
third-party decision maker a judge and a
third-party decision maker a judge and a court who will listen to our stories and
court who will listen to our stories and
court who will listen to our stories and then weigh the facts and the law and
then weigh the facts and the law and
then weigh the facts and the law and then hand us a decision we also agree
then hand us a decision we also agree
then hand us a decision we also agree winner or lose or that when that this
winner or lose or that when that this
winner or lose or that when that this decision is handed over we will both
decision is handed over we will both
decision is handed over we will both follow it you see this is a great
follow it you see this is a great
follow it you see this is a great equalizer in our country a system that
equalizer in our country a system that
equalizer in our country a system that can adjust for the inherent imbalance
can adjust for the inherent imbalance
can adjust for the inherent imbalance and power and privilege in our society
and power and privilege in our society
and power and privilege in our society it’s one of the core pillars of American
it’s one of the core pillars of American
it’s one of the core pillars of American democracy
democracy
democracy it’s an enforcement mechanism for the
it’s an enforcement mechanism for the
it’s an enforcement mechanism for the promise that we make for liberty and
promise that we make for liberty and
promise that we make for liberty and justice for all
justice for all
justice for all but for that promise to ring true for
but for that promise to ring true for
but for that promise to ring true for the civil justice system to work it
the civil justice system to work it
the civil justice system to work it require
require
require two things they require something called
two things they require something called
two things they require something called the rule of law and it requires all of
the rule of law and it requires all of
the rule of law and it requires all of us as ordinary citizens to hold it
us as ordinary citizens to hold it
us as ordinary citizens to hold it accountable now there’s been a lot of
accountable now there’s been a lot of
accountable now there’s been a lot of talk in the news recently about the rule
talk in the news recently about the rule
talk in the news recently about the rule of law which is just this some ideas
of law which is just this some ideas
of law which is just this some ideas from our Constitution first that we will
from our Constitution first that we will
from our Constitution first that we will be a nation of laws that means that
be a nation of laws that means that
be a nation of laws that means that we’re governed by laws and were not
we’re governed by laws and were not
we’re governed by laws and were not governed by the whims or the
governed by the whims or the
governed by the whims or the proclamations of a king or of a dictator
proclamations of a king or of a dictator
proclamations of a king or of a dictator the second is that each and every one of
the second is that each and every one of
the second is that each and every one of us regardless of our race ethnicity
us regardless of our race ethnicity
us regardless of our race ethnicity gender sexual orientation religion
gender sexual orientation religion
gender sexual orientation religion social economic status really any group
social economic status really any group
social economic status really any group or individual characteristic we shall
or individual characteristic we shall
or individual characteristic we shall all be equal under the law and the last
all be equal under the law and the last
all be equal under the law and the last idea is that the rule of law applies to
idea is that the rule of law applies to
idea is that the rule of law applies to all of us as individual people it also
all of us as individual people it also
all of us as individual people it also applies to corporations and most
applies to corporations and most
applies to corporations and most importantly of all and this is not true
importantly of all and this is not true
importantly of all and this is not true everywhere in the world it applies to
everywhere in the world it applies to
everywhere in the world it applies to the government including the president
the government including the president
the government including the president so this means the civil justice system
so this means the civil justice system
so this means the civil justice system is totally the place that can decide my
is totally the place that can decide my
is totally the place that can decide my disagreement with my landlord over that
disagreement with my landlord over that
disagreement with my landlord over that broken toilet
broken toilet
broken toilet it also means though that if a company
it also means though that if a company
it also means though that if a company produces something that harms you or me
produces something that harms you or me
produces something that harms you or me or a group of people we can all take
or a group of people we can all take
or a group of people we can all take that harm into the civil justice system
that harm into the civil justice system
that harm into the civil justice system and that system can decide whether the
and that system can decide whether the
and that system can decide whether the corporation did something wrong and what
corporation did something wrong and what
corporation did something wrong and what should happen if it did and if the
should happen if it did and if the
should happen if it did and if the President of the United States does
President of the United States does
President of the United States does something that harms a group of people
something that harms a group of people
something that harms a group of people that system may decide whether the
that system may decide whether the
that system may decide whether the president did something wrong and what
president did something wrong and what
president did something wrong and what should happen if he did he said that
should happen if he did he said that
should happen if he did he said that systems sit squarely on the rule of law
systems sit squarely on the rule of law
systems sit squarely on the rule of law and that’s the power in the system but
and that’s the power in the system but
and that’s the power in the system but the system is also fragile it’s fragile
the system is also fragile it’s fragile
the system is also fragile it’s fragile because also at its heart it’s just this
because also at its heart it’s just this
because also at its heart it’s just this ephemeral promise that we make to each
ephemeral promise that we make to each
ephemeral promise that we make to each other that the government in turn makes
other that the government in turn makes
other that the government in turn makes to all of us you see when the system is
to all of us you see when the system is
to all of us you see when the system is working it’s just like oxygen we need it
working it’s just like oxygen we need it
working it’s just like oxygen we need it to survive but it’s invisible all around
to survive but it’s invisible all around
to survive but it’s invisible all around us but if we take that system for
us but if we take that system for
us but if we take that system for granted if we stop being the active
granted if we stop being the active
granted if we stop being the active watchdogs to protect it well it can
watchdogs to protect it well it can
watchdogs to protect it well it can weaken and completely erode
weaken and completely erode
weaken and completely erode but so what does it even mean to be an
but so what does it even mean to be an
but so what does it even mean to be an active watchdog for a civil justice
active watchdog for a civil justice
active watchdog for a civil justice system I mean like what can we do well
system I mean like what can we do well
system I mean like what can we do well the first is we have to be aware you
the first is we have to be aware you
the first is we have to be aware you have to know the system exists you have
have to know the system exists you have
have to know the system exists you have to make the oxygen visible and the
to make the oxygen visible and the
to make the oxygen visible and the second is to be informed you have to
second is to be informed you have to
second is to be informed you have to know how the system works and what the
know how the system works and what the
know how the system works and what the risks are to it and what protections
risks are to it and what protections
risks are to it and what protections exist let me talk about it like this
exist let me talk about it like this
exist let me talk about it like this when I was a kid I did not appreciate my
when I was a kid I did not appreciate my
when I was a kid I did not appreciate my parents rules especially when I was
parents rules especially when I was
parents rules especially when I was caught breaking them and when I got in
caught breaking them and when I got in
caught breaking them and when I got in trouble oh I would argue with my parents
trouble oh I would argue with my parents
trouble oh I would argue with my parents I would tell them that their rules were
I would tell them that their rules were
I would tell them that their rules were not fair I would tell them that they did
not fair I would tell them that they did
not fair I would tell them that they did not apply their rules equally between me
not apply their rules equally between me
not apply their rules equally between me and my sisters and I never won a single
and my sisters and I never won a single
and my sisters and I never won a single one of these arguments I inevitably just
one of these arguments I inevitably just
one of these arguments I inevitably just ended up in more trouble and being sent
ended up in more trouble and being sent
ended up in more trouble and being sent downstairs to my room and every time
downstairs to my room and every time
downstairs to my room and every time when I got to the bottom of those stairs
when I got to the bottom of those stairs
when I got to the bottom of those stairs I would stop trembling with this
I would stop trembling with this
I would stop trembling with this righteous indignation and I would always
righteous indignation and I would always
righteous indignation and I would always yell the same phrase back up the stairs
yell the same phrase back up the stairs
yell the same phrase back up the stairs to my parents what about kids rights
to my parents what about kids rights
to my parents what about kids rights what about kids rights I don’t even know
what about kids rights I don’t even know
what about kids rights I don’t even know what I thought I meant by that phrase I
what I thought I meant by that phrase I
what I thought I meant by that phrase I just I wanted to be heard right I wanted
just I wanted to be heard right I wanted
just I wanted to be heard right I wanted to protest I wanted justice and now
to protest I wanted justice and now
to protest I wanted justice and now apologies to my parents but their rules
apologies to my parents but their rules
apologies to my parents but their rules were arbitrary right they were allowed
were arbitrary right they were allowed
were arbitrary right they were allowed to be right you guys know parents are
to be right you guys know parents are
to be right you guys know parents are the dictators and the kings in a family
the dictators and the kings in a family
the dictators and the kings in a family system they are allowed to make the
system they are allowed to make the
system they are allowed to make the rules up as they go along my parents did
rules up as they go along my parents did
rules up as they go along my parents did not have to be fair to me they did not
not have to be fair to me they did not
not have to be fair to me they did not have to give me a hearing to air my
have to give me a hearing to air my
have to give me a hearing to air my grievances but that feeling that feeling
grievances but that feeling that feeling
grievances but that feeling that feeling of righteous indignation that was real
of righteous indignation that was real
of righteous indignation that was real and can you imagine for a moment what it
and can you imagine for a moment what it
and can you imagine for a moment what it would be like if our civil justice
would be like if our civil justice
would be like if our civil justice system operated the way my parents rules
system operated the way my parents rules
system operated the way my parents rules did I mean what if the the rules the
did I mean what if the the rules the
did I mean what if the the rules the laws were not written down and posted
laws were not written down and posted
laws were not written down and posted online where we could all read them and
online where we could all read them and
online where we could all read them and understand them but they were kept in
understand them but they were kept in
understand them but they were kept in some backroom they were only available
some backroom they were only available
some backroom they were only available to the people who already had power or
to the people who already had power or
to the people who already had power or what if the decision-makers the judges
what if the decision-makers the judges
what if the decision-makers the judges were not fair but heavily influenced by
were not fair but heavily influenced by
were not fair but heavily influenced by local politics and their relationships
local politics and their relationships
local politics and their relationships or even bribes
or even bribes
or even bribes what if ordinary people like you and me
what if ordinary people like you and me
what if ordinary people like you and me were never allowed into the room
were never allowed into the room
were never allowed into the room where our voices might be heard that is
where our voices might be heard that is
where our voices might be heard that is actually how courts in some countries
actually how courts in some countries
actually how courts in some countries work so what what keeps that from
work so what what keeps that from
work so what what keeps that from happening here
happening here
happening here well we had the Constitution and we have
well we had the Constitution and we have
well we had the Constitution and we have 200 years of history of the system being
200 years of history of the system being
200 years of history of the system being in place but I think the most basic
in place but I think the most basic
in place but I think the most basic fundamental protection for our civil
fundamental protection for our civil
fundamental protection for our civil justice system is you and me
justice system is you and me
justice system is you and me you see generations of Americans have
you see generations of Americans have
you see generations of Americans have fought to protect our civil justice
fought to protect our civil justice
fought to protect our civil justice system some in times of greater
system some in times of greater
system some in times of greater challenge than others and I am Telling
challenge than others and I am Telling
challenge than others and I am Telling You that in this moment in time in our
You that in this moment in time in our
You that in this moment in time in our country’s history it needs you more than
country’s history it needs you more than
country’s history it needs you more than ever to be aware to be informed to be an
ever to be aware to be informed to be an
ever to be aware to be informed to be an active watchdog and that means holding
active watchdog and that means holding
active watchdog and that means holding the system accountable to be accessible
the system accountable to be accessible
the system accountable to be accessible not only to you not only to me but to
not only to you not only to me but to
not only to you not only to me but to anyone who needs it as if our system is
anyone who needs it as if our system is
anyone who needs it as if our system is the great equalizer under law then it is
the great equalizer under law then it is
the great equalizer under law then it is deeply wounded if there are people who
deeply wounded if there are people who
deeply wounded if there are people who cannot access it
cannot access it
cannot access it let’s think about it this way when I was
let’s think about it this way when I was
let’s think about it this way when I was a kid in elementary school I loved the
a kid in elementary school I loved the
a kid in elementary school I loved the parachute game and my favorite moment
parachute game and my favorite moment
parachute game and my favorite moment was when we’d all stretch the fabric way
was when we’d all stretch the fabric way
was when we’d all stretch the fabric way up over our heads right and then you
up over our heads right and then you
up over our heads right and then you turn around inside and whip it down as
turn around inside and whip it down as
turn around inside and whip it down as fast as we could and make that mushroom
fast as we could and make that mushroom
fast as we could and make that mushroom balloon tent thing with all of us tucked
balloon tent thing with all of us tucked
balloon tent thing with all of us tucked inside for me our civil justice system
inside for me our civil justice system
inside for me our civil justice system is that parachute moment you know Martin
is that parachute moment you know Martin
is that parachute moment you know Martin Luther King said that the arc of the
Luther King said that the arc of the
Luther King said that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends
moral universe is long but it bends
moral universe is long but it bends towards justice but I don’t think bends
towards justice but I don’t think bends
towards justice but I don’t think bends towards justice on its own I think it
towards justice on its own I think it
towards justice on its own I think it takes all of us stretching up and
takes all of us stretching up and
takes all of us stretching up and grabbing on and we work together to bend
grabbing on and we work together to bend
grabbing on and we work together to bend the arc by pulling and just like the
the arc by pulling and just like the
the arc by pulling and just like the parachute it takes all of us and that’s
parachute it takes all of us and that’s
parachute it takes all of us and that’s what I’m trying to do as a lawyer to
what I’m trying to do as a lawyer to
what I’m trying to do as a lawyer to grab a hold of my piece of the parachute
grab a hold of my piece of the parachute
grab a hold of my piece of the parachute and Bend that arc and I do this in a
and Bend that arc and I do this in a
and Bend that arc and I do this in a portion of the civil justice system
portion of the civil justice system
portion of the civil justice system called legal aid or legal services we’re
called legal aid or legal services we’re
called legal aid or legal services we’re a network of nonprofits and our whole
a network of nonprofits and our whole
a network of nonprofits and our whole mission is to make sure that ordinary
mission is to make sure that ordinary
mission is to make sure that ordinary people and especially people who are
people and especially people who are
people and especially people who are low-income get full access to that civil
low-income get full access to that civil
low-income get full access to that civil justice system
justice system
justice system now there are five million low-income
now there are five million low-income
now there are five million low-income Californians who will experience at
Californians who will experience at
Californians who will experience at least one pressing legal problem each
least one pressing legal problem each
least one pressing legal problem each year that relates to a basic life
year that relates to a basic life
year that relates to a basic life necessity but let me tell you only
necessity but let me tell you only
necessity but let me tell you only lawyers think about these things as
lawyers think about these things as
lawyers think about these things as legal problems for the people
legal problems for the people
legal problems for the people experiencing them they are just life
experiencing them they are just life
experiencing them they are just life problems I complain to my landlord about
problems I complain to my landlord about
problems I complain to my landlord about the toilet and instead of fixing it he
the toilet and instead of fixing it he
the toilet and instead of fixing it he serves me with eviction papers or a
serves me with eviction papers or a
serves me with eviction papers or a young woman who has just left an abusive
young woman who has just left an abusive
young woman who has just left an abusive relationship and she is terrified by the
relationship and she is terrified by the
relationship and she is terrified by the idea that her abuser can find her at her
idea that her abuser can find her at her
idea that her abuser can find her at her job or the Vietnam veteran who’s living
job or the Vietnam veteran who’s living
job or the Vietnam veteran who’s living on the streets because he’s been denied
on the streets because he’s been denied
on the streets because he’s been denied the housing benefits and the medical
the housing benefits and the medical
the housing benefits and the medical care that he needs all of those people
care that he needs all of those people
care that he needs all of those people are experiencing life problems that just
are experiencing life problems that just
are experiencing life problems that just happened to have legal solutions and far
happened to have legal solutions and far
happened to have legal solutions and far too many Californians cannot afford to
too many Californians cannot afford to
too many Californians cannot afford to hire an attorney to get the legal help
hire an attorney to get the legal help
hire an attorney to get the legal help they need and unlike the criminal
they need and unlike the criminal
they need and unlike the criminal justice system we are not entitled to a
justice system we are not entitled to a
justice system we are not entitled to a lawyer to be appointed for us in the
lawyer to be appointed for us in the
lawyer to be appointed for us in the civil justice system even when our most
civil justice system even when our most
civil justice system even when our most basic needs are at issue so these people
basic needs are at issue so these people
basic needs are at issue so these people are shut out of the civil justice system
are shut out of the civil justice system
are shut out of the civil justice system they are far outside the parachute
they are far outside the parachute
they are far outside the parachute because they cannot afford it and so
because they cannot afford it and so
because they cannot afford it and so legal aid nonprofits legal aid lawyers
legal aid nonprofits legal aid lawyers
legal aid nonprofits legal aid lawyers provide them with that legal help for
provide them with that legal help for
provide them with that legal help for free legal aid lawyers are first
free legal aid lawyers are first
free legal aid lawyers are first responders every day they show up when
responders every day they show up when
responders every day they show up when people have a legal crisis whether it’s
people have a legal crisis whether it’s
people have a legal crisis whether it’s standing in the courtroom with that
standing in the courtroom with that
standing in the courtroom with that survivor of domestic violence or even in
survivor of domestic violence or even in
survivor of domestic violence or even in the crisis centers after the recent
the crisis centers after the recent
the crisis centers after the recent wildfires and last January legal aid
wildfires and last January legal aid
wildfires and last January legal aid lawyers were at the heart of the legal
lawyers were at the heart of the legal
lawyers were at the heart of the legal clinics in the SF and LA airports so it
clinics in the SF and LA airports so it
clinics in the SF and LA airports so it was no accident that last February 3rd I
was no accident that last February 3rd I
was no accident that last February 3rd I was sitting in the SFO clinic emailing
was sitting in the SFO clinic emailing
was sitting in the SFO clinic emailing spirit still with that Syrian father who
spirit still with that Syrian father who
spirit still with that Syrian father who was still stuck in Istanbul there was a
was still stuck in Istanbul there was a
was still stuck in Istanbul there was a moment where Boston was the only Airport
moment where Boston was the only Airport
moment where Boston was the only Airport allowed to passengers and he was
allowed to passengers and he was
allowed to passengers and he was actually standing in line to board the
actually standing in line to board the
actually standing in line to board the last flight out of Istanbul to Boston
last flight out of Istanbul to Boston
last flight out of Istanbul to Boston when he suddenly emailed our group that
when he suddenly emailed our group that
when he suddenly emailed our group that the airline personnel had come over and
the airline personnel had come over and
the airline personnel had come over and they were trying to pull him out of line
they were trying to pull him out of line
they were trying to pull him out of line because they thought the window of
because they thought the window of
because they thought the window of timing was too tight
timing was too tight
timing was too tight our group wrapped it into activity it
our group wrapped it into activity it
our group wrapped it into activity it was this heart-stopping moment and
was this heart-stopping moment and
was this heart-stopping moment and suddenly my phone started buzzing with a
suddenly my phone started buzzing with a
suddenly my phone started buzzing with a news alert because this remarkably
news alert because this remarkably
news alert because this remarkably American thing had just happened a civil
American thing had just happened a civil
American thing had just happened a civil court issued a national order that
court issued a national order that
court issued a national order that prevented the travel ban from putting be
prevented the travel ban from putting be
prevented the travel ban from putting be put into place
put into place
put into place a civil justice court had listened to
a civil justice court had listened to
a civil justice court had listened to the stories weighed the facts and the
the stories weighed the facts and the
the stories weighed the facts and the law and handed over decision that the
law and handed over decision that the
law and handed over decision that the government the president had to obey so
government the president had to obey so
government the president had to obey so he immediately got all of the
he immediately got all of the
he immediately got all of the information about this decision to that
information about this decision to that
information about this decision to that young father and he was able to convince
young father and he was able to convince
young father and he was able to convince the airline to allow him to board and
the airline to allow him to board and
the airline to allow him to board and with his permission I’d like to share
with his permission I’d like to share
with his permission I’d like to share with you the words that he sent to all
with you the words that he sent to all
with you the words that he sent to all of us as he was boarding that fight dear
of us as he was boarding that fight dear
of us as he was boarding that fight dear all no matter how much I talk it will
all no matter how much I talk it will
all no matter how much I talk it will not be enough to celebrate your efforts
not be enough to celebrate your efforts
not be enough to celebrate your efforts it is a dream that I finally get to see
it is a dream that I finally get to see
it is a dream that I finally get to see my wife and my son this was a hard
my wife and my son this was a hard
my wife and my son this was a hard experience and I am sure that your
experience and I am sure that your
experience and I am sure that your efforts will win in the end
efforts will win in the end
efforts will win in the end breaking all fake walls between human
breaking all fake walls between human
breaking all fake walls between human hearts and so this this is what the rule
hearts and so this this is what the rule
hearts and so this this is what the rule of law exists to do what civil justice
of law exists to do what civil justice
of law exists to do what civil justice strives to do what legal aid has the
strives to do what legal aid has the
strives to do what legal aid has the power to do to break down all the walls
power to do to break down all the walls
power to do to break down all the walls that exist between our most human hearts
that exist between our most human hearts
that exist between our most human hearts but it takes all of us to be champions
but it takes all of us to be champions
but it takes all of us to be champions of this civil justice system now is not
of this civil justice system now is not
of this civil justice system now is not the time to stand at the bottom of the
the time to stand at the bottom of the
the time to stand at the bottom of the stairs now is the time to grab the
stairs now is the time to grab the
stairs now is the time to grab the parachute be aware be informed demand
parachute be aware be informed demand
parachute be aware be informed demand that the civil justice system in this
that the civil justice system in this
that the civil justice system in this country work for you and for me and for
country work for you and for me and for
country work for you and for me and for all of us regardless of who we are what
all of us regardless of who we are what
all of us regardless of who we are what we have or where we come from thank you
we have or where we come from thank you
we have or where we come from thank you [Applause]
”
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