May 6, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 7 min read

Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Michael Pratt, an attorney and Chair of the Philadelphia Litigation practice of Greenberg Traurig, delivers the keynote address at the 64th annual Washington NAACP Human Rights Award Banquet held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in the Meadowlands on Friday.

A. Michael Pratt is bewildered.

Pratt, an attorney and Chair of the Philadelphia Litigation practice of Greenberg Traurig who graduated from Washington & Jefferson College and Harvard Law School, delivered a riveting keynote address at the 64th annual Washington NAACP Human Rights Award Banquet held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in the Meadowlands on Friday.

In a nearly half-hour speech, Pratt shared his dire concerns about the democratic crisis he believes the United States is facing.

Pratt’s address focused on election integrity, the assault on truth, and what to do about it.

“The NAACP has been on the forefront of the fight for basic equity and equality and human rights forever. It has been a historical struggle, and while we have made great strides, you all know we still have a long way to go. And although it has been a rugged path, I was taught certain things were universal. And that was, no matter our political, our ethnic, our cultural differences, truth, honesty and integrity have never been subject to doublespeak or misinterpretation. And I’m struggling because I can’t make sense of what has become this normalization of falsehoods and outright dishonesty that permeates through large segments of our society,” said Pratt. “Where the line between fact and fiction are blurred, these ‘alternative facts,’ as some people have termed them, are eating away, I believe, at the soul of our humanity. They are sowing even more discord and division than we’ve ever experienced. And it has fueled hatred and intolerance that seeks to drown out every semblance of compassion and common sense.”

He said there’s been an alarming increase in voter suppression that disproportionately impacts voters of color, the elderly and the poor.

“Voting is and remains the cornerstone of our democracy, the fundamental right upon which all other rights are built. Yet across the country, rather than making it easier to vote, particularly given all of the modern technology at our disposal, we see deliberate efforts to erect barriers to prevent eligible citizens from exercising this sacred right,” said Pratt. “Whether through restrictive voter ID laws, gerrymandering, purging voter rolls, or limiting early voting hours, voter suppression takes many forms, all under the false pretense of safeguarding the integrity of our elections.”

As an example of the rarity of voter fraud, Pratt pointed to a study by the Heritage Foundation that found about 1,300 cases of voter fraud in the U.S. over the past 40 years.

“As citizens, it is our responsibility to challenge the fallacy of election integrity and ensure that every vote is heard, that every vote is counted and that every person has equal access to the ballot box,” he continued.

He encouraged the audience to serve as his “sounding board” and “therapist” as he grappled to make sense of “How did we get to the place where facts are no longer facts, where honesty no longer seems to matter, where our integrity is so malleable.”

Pratt expressed alarm at the cracks in the foundation of democracy that have been exposed in recent years.

“Every instance of voter suppression undermines the legitimacy of our government and erodes the trust of the people in our democratic institution,” he said.

Pratt encouraged those in attendance not to lose hope, despite the hostile times, and to remain optimistic about the future.

“We see countless examples of individuals and organizations who lobby these principles in their daily lives. We see activists who speak truth to power, journalists who shine a light on injustices, and community leaders, such as many of you here, who work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding and empathy,” he said. “These are ordinary people who, in their own small ways, make a difference in the lives of others simply by living with integrity and treating others with kindness and respect. We see a new generation of leaders emerging who embody the virtues of truth, honesty, integrity and character, who are committed to making a more just and inclusive society for all. We must never, never give up standing up for honesty, truth and integrity.”

He also asked those in attendance to “never give in to complacency.”

He advised to learn to separate fact from fiction and stay informed; to hold leaders accountable to the highest standards of honesty and integrity, and to demand transparency and accountability in public institutions.

“Some of our leaders continue to engage in these untruths because they can,” Pratt said.

Pratt also talked of the importance of living a life of “integrity and authenticity, being true to ourselves and to others and to lead by example.”

“I do believe that when we are truthful with ourselves and others, we create space within connection and understanding. Honesty fosters trust and lays the foundation for authentic communication. It is the cornerstone of healthy relationships with family, friends and colleagues.”

He said the truth is the bedrock that democracy is based on, and that it is necessary to improve the health of democracy in the U.S., and found the definitions of truth, honesty and integrity to be the same in many religions.

“Whether you consider yourself an agnostic or an atheist, a person of faith, grounded in (religion), or you consider yourself a faithless intellectual, the definitions of truth, honesty and integrity are universal. Truth as the moral underpinning of spiritual faith is transcendent,” he said. “In our everyday lives, these virtues shape the way we interact with one another, the way we navigate the complexity of the world around us, and the way we build meaningful relationships. These are the very virtues to which decent people aspire and to which we teach our children and pray every single day that they will follow.”

Pratt said political and civic leaders should seek to constructively address the issues and problems confronting the country instead of resorting to “dishonest, vicious and sometimes volatile rhetoric.”

He concluded by asking the audience to re-dedicate themselves to the ideals for which the human rights award, given to Phyllis Waller, stands.

“In a world often categorized by political polarization and moral ambiguity and ethical lapses, the virtues of truth, honesty, integrity and character are now more desirable than ever and are essential for the preservation of our democracy, the promotion of justice, and the advancement of human dignity,” Pratt said. “”Let us strive to become beacons of truth in a world that is shrouded in too many untruths. Let us be paragons of honesty in a culture of deceit. Let us be bastions of integrity in a sea of corruption. And let us be exemplars of the highest degree of character in a society that need all of us to stand up for what is right.”

Barbara Griffin, an attorney and Director of the Pro Bono Center of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation – where she creates, manages, and supports programs that provide free legal services to individuals and families with low incomes – served as mistress of ceremonies.

She has worked to lower barriers to employment, housing, and education by clearing old criminal records through the expungement and pardon processes. She is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc.’s Excellence Award, and was named the Tanya Niemen Pro Bono Professional of the Year by the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals. She was the first woman and first African American to be appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security.