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A Call to Action

Abstract

Amya Martinez's Bailey Oratorical speech reflects on the tragic shooting of the speaker’s cousin, Dante Williams, who was left paralyzed due to the inaction of bystanders during a violent attack. Using Dante’s story as a lens, Martinez examines the bystander effect and critiques the widespread cultural tendency to "mind your own business," especially when lives are at stake. While acknowledging the fear and hesitation that can prevent people from intervening, Martinez emphasizes that compassion and moral responsibility must outweigh personal discomfort. Referencing both personal experience and the broader societal issue—such as the case of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz—Martinez urges listeners to choose action over passivity in critical moments. Ultimately, it delivers a compelling call to break the cycle of indifference and commit to building safer, more compassionate communities, insisting that “peace is everybody’s business.”