Harrison Ford urges ASU grads to fight for social justice after his generation left world 'a real mess'

Speaking at Arizona State University’s graduation ceremony held earlier in May, actor Harrison Ford, who received an honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters from the university, told the graduation class of 2026 to "extend social justice" and honor "nature’s authority."

Ford told the graduates, "we need cultural change. We need to extend social justice. We need to respect and elevate indigenous peoples that are being marginalized, and in many cases killed in cold blood. These communities have long understood that the trees, the mountains, water, soil, are not commodities, they are relatives to be cherished for following generations to embrace and protect."

"We can all play a role by embracing that wisdom in our day-to-day lives, by loving the planet, by honoring nature’s authority, her generosity, the bounty she affords us, the justice of her example, because the world you’re stepping into, the world my generation left you, is a real mess," the Star Wars actor said. 

He said that "saving nature isn’t our only job," and called for the graduates to "find a place for yourself, whatever talent or ambition you have, find some way to put it to work. Build something that didn’t exist yesterday. Stand up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. Bring people together who weren’t talking before. That’s leadership. That’s what moves the needle."

"Your generation has far more power than you may realize, and if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you. You will have to be accommodated. Believe me, I know that’s true."