10/16/2026
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I've been reflecting on a speech I delivered to Shepherd's Rest Ministries at their annual gala on May 16, 2026.
At the time, I chose not to share it publicly because it was delivered just before Election Day. Looking back, I think that was the right decision.
Now, however, I think it is important that the community understand how I view domestic violence, survivors, victim advocacy, and the role of the justice system.
Everything below is exactly as delivered that evening.
Keynote Address to SRM: delivered by Robert S. Lane, District Attorney
Good Evening.
Dr. Melton and Honorable Members of the Board of Directors, thank you for inviting me to be here today. It is a privilege to stand with an organization that has been a lifeline for so many in our community. The work done by Shepherds Rest is quiet, steady, and often unseen — but its impact is profound. It changes lives. It saves lives.
Your theme this year is courage, and I can think of no word more fitting.
When most people hear the word “courage,” they imagine dramatic moments — heroic acts, bold decisions, or grand gestures. But the truth is that courage rarely looks like that. Real courage is quieter. It is personal. It is built in small steps, often taken in the dark, often taken alone.
It is the courage to ask for help, even when you’ve been told for years that you don’t deserve it. It is the courage to leave, even when leaving feels more frightening than staying. It is the courage to begin again, to rebuild a life from the ground up, one decision at a time.
Every survivor who walks through the doors of this shelter carries a story of strength. You may not have felt strong in the moment — but courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to move forward in spite of it. It is choosing safety over silence. It is choosing hope over harm. It is choosing yourself.
And that choice is powerful.
The staff and advocates here understand that power. They walk beside survivors as they take those first steps toward safety, toward healing, toward a future that may have once felt impossible. Their work is a reminder that no one has to walk this path alone. Community support — real, compassionate, consistent support — is one of the greatest tools we have in the fight against domestic violence.
As District Attorney, I see the courage of survivors every day. I see it in the moment someone decides to tell their story. I see it when they sit with our victim advocates and take the first steps toward safety. I see it when they choose to protect their children, even when the road ahead is uncertain. And I see it when they begin the long, difficult process of healing — a journey that is never linear, never simple, but always worth taking.
I want every survivor in this room to hear this clearly: You are not defined by what happened to you. You are defined by the strength it took to survive it. You are defined by the courage it took to step forward. And you are defined by the future you are building — one that is safer, brighter, and entirely your own.
Our office stands with you. This shelter stands with you. And this community stands with you. You are not alone, and you never will be.
Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your resilience. And thank you for allowing us to walk beside you as you build the next chapter of your life.
