NFL players head to border to bring supplies to detained children

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/394789-nfl-players-head-to-border-to-bring-supplies-to-separated

NFL players head to border to bring supplies to detained children
By Morgan Gstalter - 06/29/18 09:56 AM EDT


NFL players headed to the U.S.-Mexico border this week to bring supplies to the migrant children separated from their parents under President Trump’s zero tolerance policy.

Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman told USA Today Sports on Thursday that he felt compelled to do something after reading about the thousands of children in detention centers.

“Put yourself in somebody else’s shoes,” Norman told the outlet. “They’ve got nothing, come here seeking asylum, know nothing of where they’re going to, other than that it’s gotta be better than where they were. Then you get to this place, and they treat you like less than a dog. We’ve lost our touch as a humanity.”

“This is about the kids. So, I never hesitated when the Lord said go,” he added.

Norman reached out to Lauren Phillip, who helps him with charitable work, and she found the nonprofit Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), USA Today reported.

A fundraiser for RAICES started by a California couple has raised more than $20 million for migrant children separated from their parents.

Norman went to Texas with New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis, USA Today reported. Both athletes are members of the Players Coalition, a social justice organization.

The men landed in San Antonio on Tuesday and filled shopping carts at a local Walmart with supplies for the migrant children.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

“We walked into the place and you could see how broken they were,” Norman told USA Today of meeting the children. “So disheartened. They don’t know where they are, really. Then we brought out the book bags and it was like flipping a light switch. You could see the darkness replaced by light and the joy.”

The players told USA Today they met some of the migrants at a bus stop.

“The people started hugging us. The most genuine smiles and hugs,” Davis told the outlet. “They didn’t know us, didn’t know how to speak the language. But it just showed that a little bit of love can go a long way. It was just special, special to see.”

Link to tweet

The two men took about 30 children and their mothers to a restaurant across the street, USA Today reported.

They bought the next busload of children 20 boxes of pizza.

Norman said the two probably spent around $10,000 on supplies and food.

“It wasn’t about the dollar amount,” Davis said. “We just did what was needed.”

more...

[malaise]

1. Wonderful

Get thee to the greatest page

[dembotoz]

2. yes

[onecaliberal]

3. K & R

[PatSeg]

4. Uplifting story

Thanks for posting!

[demmiblue]

5. K&R

[NoMoreRepugs]

6. NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB Players unions need to get behind this.

Most players, not all, come from humble origins. If anyone can relate it's them.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. Oh, i cant love this enough!

[Aristus]

8. THERE is where our humanity is!

It sure as hell isn't in Congress or the GOP...

[NightWatcher]

9. When trump retaliates, you know he will, I hope players' associations strike this next season.

[Scarsdale]

10. What wonderful guys, doing this.

The administration and gop should be ashamed of themselves for trying to ignore this problem. Too bad tRump only helps his family, Russians and people loyal to him.

[spanone]

11. notice: trump can't be bothered to travel down there, too busy campaigning

[Tucker08087]

12. Awesome.

Where there is love, there is hope.

[Goodheart]

13. Isn't it remarkable how the Lord tells different things to different people?

I'd like to contrast this:

“I never hesitated when the Lord said go.... They’ve got nothing, come here seeking asylum, know nothing of where they’re going to, other than that it’s gotta be better than where they were. Then you get to this place, and they treat you like less than a dog. We’ve lost our touch as a humanity.”

With what my brother told me yesterday: that he supports Trump, that it's the parents' and not Trump's fault that children are being separated, that if some small children have to spend time away from their mothers that it's just tough breaks because Jesus and the Bible say that laws should be abided, blah blah blah.

With my brother, WHO REGULARLY GIVES SERMONS at his holy roller church, who has even married people despite never being ordained (at least to my knowledge), who spouts Jesus this and Jesus that in almost every situation, who praises Jesus for every little thing that goes right in his life and blames the devil for every little thing that goes wrong.... well, I can't detect a single ounce of compassion for those poor kids and their families.

Hey, Lord, if you exist you MUST be listening.... get off your ass and help people, and help other people see the light.

[George II]

14. I hope these role models cause more ordinary Americans to do similar things. Good for them!

[eissa]

15. Can't love this enough

We only seem to hear the stories of NFL players behaving badly, when in reality those are few. Can't wait for the season to start!

[flibbitygiblets]

16. Because being American doesn't mean standing for the anthem (and pretending to know the words)

It means ACTING like an American. Actually STANDING UP for "family values" instead of empty words about them, followed by cuts to child protections, and ripping families apart.

I've never given two shits about football. But these guys just won my heart.

[gademocrat7]

17. K&R!

Two young men making the effort to bring some hope to these victims of chump's vile immigrant policies.

[NastyRiffraff]

18. Wonderful

Thank you to all the NFL players who are doing this. They are lights shining through the darkness.

[cstanleytech]

19. Remember when Trump asked the NFL players who he should pardon? Maybe they should now tell him

to pardon all the illegal immigrants currently here inside the U.S. including the children.

[justgamma]

20. Wonderful! Question?

Where did the kids come from? Who bused them in? Were these kids separated from their parents? Just curious.

I hope all the caring players take their knees to protest this injustice.

What wonderful men these guys are!

[Cha]

21. OMG.. this is Beautiful!!

Link to tweet

I adore NFL Playas!