Being invited to Norway for the Nobel Peace Forum was a profound honour, one shaped not only by the weight of the space itself, but by the responsibility of what it means to speak there.
During the panel, alongside Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., I spoke about democracy and peace not as abstract ideals, but as daily practices – ones that require courage, honesty, and accountability, especially from those closest to power. I was not there to claim that I could be a voice for the voiceless. As I shared on the panel, my responsibility, like that of many who are given platforms, is to help ensure that those most affected by violence and exclusion are not erased from the conversation. Who is allowed to speak, and who is invited to be heard, matters profoundly.
That distinction carried deep personal meaning for me. Like my grandfather, I have learned that moral leadership is not about speaking over others, but about opening space, sometimes insisting on it, so that truth can emerge with dignity.
I also spoke plainly about the limits of neutrality. My grandfather taught us that silence, when injustice is unfolding, is not peace; it is permission. He did not hesitate to call out harm done abroad, nor the harm inflicted in his own homeland. That legacy continues to guide me.
I will not shut up about the plight of the Palestinian people. Nor will I avoid naming injustice when it is enabled or perpetuated by those closest to home, including in one of my own homes, the United States. Peace requires more than good intentions; it demands moral clarity, especially when speaking is uncomfortable or costly.
The Nobel Peace Forum was a reminder that platforms of influence carry responsibility. They ask us not only to speak, but to listen, to centre those whose lives are most shaped by the decisions being made. I remain grateful for the opportunity to contribute to that conversation, and committed to ensuring that peace is pursued not through silence or avoidance, but through truth, dignity, and shared humanity.
As this year draws to a close, I want to extend my gratitude to all who continue to engage these difficult conversations with care, courage, and compassion. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, moments of reflection and of rest matter deeply. I wish you and your loved ones peace over the holiday season and renewed strength for the year ahead. May we carry forward the work of justice with humility, hope, and an enduring commitment to one another’s humanity.
Click here to watch the recording.