AsylumGuido

Saints' Demario Davis honored by Bronx Defenders with social justice award



By Josh Katzenstein jkatzenstein@nola.com
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis spent part of his week off in New York receiving an award for his involvement in social justice.

Davis, who previously played for the New York Jets, received the In Pursuit of Justice award from the Bronx Defenders at a gala last Thursday (Oct. 11).

According to the Bronx Defenders website, the group is a "public defender nonprofit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the justice system and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself."

Davis said he partnered with the Bronx Defenders for a handful of events last year while he was with the Jets, including a visit to the New York capital in Albany.

"It was pretty neat to be honored by them, but we don't do it for the awards," Davis said. "We do it because it's peoples lives being impacted. That's what it's about. I just feel like I'm doing my part as a human being, helping people who can't help themselves."

A member of the Players Coalition, Davis is among the most active players in terms of social justice reform. Since signing with the Saints in March, Davis has participated in several events in Louisiana, and he and other Saints players are focusing this month on voter restoration.

When Davis received the award Thursday, Saints owner Gayle Benson and Jets owner Chris Johnson were in attendance.

"It's always neat to have the team owners support us in our works off the field, especially when it comes to social justice," Davis said.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill