Demario Davis has been outspoken on plenty of topics throughout his NFL career, from the Flint water crisis and prison reform to the NFL’s national anthem policy and his faith in God. Recently, the New Orleans Saints linebacker has gotten involved in the fight for immigration rights.
“I think Christians, believers, have to lead the charge because God is love and He’s shown us what love is,” Davis said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in 2017. “If we’re not leading the way and we’re not being a light, then we’re not doing our part.”
This offseason, as they did last summer, Davis and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman delivered food, toys and backpacks to families at the U.S.-Mexico border. The trips have helped fuel Davis’ passion for immigration rights.
Before the Saints’ first preseason game on Friday, Davis sent out a tweet raising awareness for the 680 undocumented workers arrested in his home state of Mississippi.
For me, today is our 1st game of the pre-season. For hundreds of children in Mississippi, they're wondering if they'll ever see their parents again. As a father of four, that does not sit right we me. We have to do something. Beyond thoughts and prayers, DONATE. CALL. VOTE. https://t.co/vTyMDXypeP
— Demario Davis (@demario__davis) August 9, 2019
Davis and Norman teamed up again on Monday to help pay the bail of immigration activist Jose Bello, who was arrested after reading a poem criticizing America’s immigration policy.
“We have these huge platforms, so we can’t afford to just play football and then stay silent on issues that are plaguing our countries,” Davis told nola.com. “That’s what it means to have true patriotism, to care about your country and want to make it better.”
Davis recorded 110 total tackles last season, his first in New Orleans. The Saints face the Los Angeles Chargers in their second preseason game Sunday, and open the regular season at home against the Houston Texans on Sept. 9.
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