Mayor Benjamin to present Bryan Stevenson with Key to the City

Justice 360 welcomes esteemed civil rights leader Bryan Stevenson to the Midlands of South Carolina. Stevenson has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. As the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, Stevenson and his staff have won major legal challenges limiting excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

On November 17th, Mr. Stevenson will speak at The Township Auditorium regarding his battles & victories in the justice system. He will share his unique and hopeful vision towards a more just and equitable America. The night will include opening remarks by Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Music by DJ Liv, a Q&A session with Mr. Stevenson and a historical photography exhibit curated by the Center for Civil Rights History and Research of the University of South Carolina.

Bryan Stevenson won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence and an NAACP Image Award forJust Mercy, which New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof called “searing” and “moving.” Just Mercy is the 2015 recipient of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for nonfiction. It was named the New York Times Notable Book of 2014, TIME Magazine Top 10 Nonfiction of 2014, Esquire Top 5 Most Important Books of 2014, Washington Post Notable Work of Nonfiction, and an American Library Association Notable Book. Mr. Stevenson has appeared on 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning, the PBS NewsHour & on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.