Civil rights leader Bryan Stevenson to receive Columbia’s Key to the City

Modern civil rights leader Bryan Stevenson will receive the honorary Key to the City from Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.

Stevenson, a lawyer and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. He and his staff have won court battles to limit excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerate death row prisoners, stand against abuse of the imprisoned and the mentally ill and to help children who are prosecuted as adults.

Stevenson will speak about his experience with the justice system Thursday at The Township Auditorium. Benjamin will give the opening remarks at a program that also will include music by DJ Liv, a historical photography exhibit and a question-and-answer session with Stevenson.

Stevenson has won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence and an NAACP Image Award for his book, “Just Mercy.”

Thursday’s event at The Township, hosted by Justice 360, is free. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m.