What People Are Saying
About Anthony Graves“Simply put, Anthony Graves is one of the most extraordinary human beings I’ve ever had the honor to know. He also is a naturally gifted public speaker. Anthony captures the audience’s attention with his very first words and holds them spellbound as he relates the story of the injustice that he and his family endured during the 18 years of his wrongful incarceration. Anthony has turned what I consider the ultimate nightmare – being wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit – into a powerful narrative of grace, hope, and survival. I am continually inspired by his humility, humor, and gift with words in describing the unimaginable. When you hear Anthony speak, you know you are in the presence of someone truly special, someone who is living a purposeful.”
“There is a real value in your life that you are here today telling this story on behalf of a lot of people who cannot speak for themselves. If you were not here, if your voice was not heard, they would have no one. So your courage in telling this story, as tough as it may have been, ought to tell you about the value you still have in life and what you can still bring, so thank you.”
“Anthony Graves is exactly the opposite of what you expect – a wrongfully convicted man who lost decades on death row and yet is somehow without bitterness or anger. Anthony has a smile that lights up a room and a store that astonishes. I have lost count of the number of times people told me they were moved to tears listening to Anthony tell his history – they will never feel the same way around our criminal justice system.”
“Anthony Graves came to Washington, D.C. to testify during a U.S. Senate Hearing on Solitary Confinement in June of 2012. After he finished speaking, a Senator at the hearing was visibly moved and people in the audience were unsuccessfully trying to hold back tears. Anthony’s story of wrongful conviction, perseverance and redemption is so powerful, you are forced to reevaluate your own life and how you react to daily trials and tribulations. He is a true American hero and I will never forget the time I spent with him.”
“Anthony Graves is a phenomenal motivational speaker, because his real-life story – told with grace, charisma and passion – can’t help but inspire audiences to work harder, be more determined, overcome obstacles, and stay focused. Bottom line, Anthony leaves everyone in an audience thinking to themselves ‘if he could do what he did, then surely I can meet my challenges.’ Any organization will benefit from meeting Anthony Graves and hearing him speak. I found him far more valuable than the typical speaker.”
“Anthony Graves has survived the unimaginable. He wads sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. He was given a scheduled execution date. He was incarcerated for eighteen years, nearly half of which he spent in solitary confinement. And yet to hear him tell his history is enormously uplifting. Anthony is an eloquent and engaging speaker who is able to vividly describe the isolation and hopelessness of death row. Remarkably, he does not harbor any bitterness, despite everything he has been through. By telling his story, he challenges the rest of us to live our lives with a greater sense of appreciation.”