stick up for (?.)

• advocate
• allege in support
• answer
• argue for
• assert
• back
• back up
• champion
• contend for
• counter
• defend
• espouse
• get behind
• get in behind
• maintain
• make a plea
• plead for
• rebut
• refute
• reply
• respond
• riposte
• run interference for
• say in defense
• second
• side with
• speak for
• speak up for
• stand back of
• stand behind
• stand by
• stand up for
• stick by
• support
• sustain
• take sides with
• uphold
• urge reasons for