Luis Alberto Urrea Quotes

My mom has always taught me to stand up for people who don't have a voice.

Standing up to bullies is the hallmark of a civilized society.

To me, I definitely stand in the corner of wanting to give voice to the bullied, and not the bully.

All religions teach the same basic thing, that you have to stand up for those that are considered the worst.

I'm passionate about people. I've spent my life in advocacy. People matter - whether or not we agree on the issue, people matter.

The cry of the oppressed has entered not only into my ears, but into my soul, so that while I live, I cannot hold my peace.

When I see somebody being mistreated, my eyes tear up and I want to stop it. And I believe that the best thing I can do is to write about it, because if I insert myself into the equation it doesn't really do much good, but if I write about it I think it could do more good.

I am a victim-oriented person. I like to see that the victims know that they have a voice.

Let's resolve to never be a bystander in the fight for human dignity

A lot of the issues today may not affect us personally, but we can't stay in our comfort zone when it comes to protecting our brothers and sisters. We have to get out there and use our voices for them as well.

In my human-rights work, perhaps the most important thing is gaining the trust of the victims.

I am passionate about human rights.

I like to give a voice to others, especially things neglected or despised.

I'm human. But overall, whenever I see anyone being made fun of or given a hard time, I rush to their defense. I want to help them because I know how it feels.

We must never relinquish the vision of a humane society and a humane world.

The kind of support the down-and-out need is the kind we have always refused them, the kind that would mean engaging with them not as objects of contempt, but as fellow human beings.

I believe in people, especially suffering people.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

I always want to give the victim a voice.

To throw oneself to the side of the oppressed is the only dignified thing to do in life.

A little anger is a good thing if it isn't on your own behalf, if it's for others deserving of your anger, your empathy.

Passion and standing up for things can help create a sense of unity. But you still have to act a certain way.

The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.

The test of our social commitment and humanity is how we treat the most powerless of our fellow citizens, the respect we accord to our fellow human beings. That is what reveals our true culture.

If everyone howled at every injustice, every act of barbarism, every act of unkindness, then we would be taking the first step towards a real humanity.