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Benjamin Watson, number 82 of the New Orleans Saints, leaves the field with his son after the NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 30, 2018. (Photo by Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
Ben Watson, a former member of the New Orleans Saints, may be retired, but that does not stop him from helping his local community in Louisiana.
According to the New Orleans lawyer, Watson is participating in the reconstruction efforts of the three Louisiana churches recently torched during a arson attack.
Suspicious fires in Louisiana's historically black churches "noticeably equal": Lawmaker
The three Baptist churches, the St. Mary Baptist Church at Port Barre, the Greater Union Baptist Church at Opelousas and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church at Opelousas, were targeted for a period of 10 years. days, from March 26th to April 4th.
On April 9, while there was still no clear reason for the fires, Watson tweeted how he would monitor the situation closely.
After following the situation for a few days, he decided to act, addressing the pastors of the three churches, as well as the leader of the Seventh District Baptist Association, the pastor Freddie Jack.
"In speaking with these pastors, I am amazed and inspired by their faith and courage, comforting their congregations and their family members," Watson told The Advocate. "Through sadness and shock, they spoke of the forgiveness of arson and the grace of tomorrow, and above all they spoke of being overwhelmed by the support of people of good will and all religions. from the land, and they have been humbled by what God has already done through that series of events. "
He is currently giving the example and has called on others to join him in supporting the reconstruction efforts, send a tweet to GoFundMe and give the address of his donations.
Holden Matthews, the 21-year-old son of a local sheriff's deputy, was arrested on Wednesday for three counts of simply arson in a religious building.
AUTHORITIES SAY MEMBER'S SON BEHIND FIRES IN BLACK CHURCHES
Watson says that he will not comment on Matthews' guilt until the court process is over.
"Although I reserve the judgment of the man arrested for this crime until proven otherwise, the fact that black churches were burned is a reminder of the fear and pain that so many communities have experienced many times since their emancipation, "Watson said. "This trauma lies deep within all of us, black and white, in America."
The 15-year-old former NFL veteran tweeted how he wanted the community, whether black or white, to come together as brothers and sisters.
Watson retired from the Saints after the January playoffs and currently lives in Louisiana with his wife, Kirsten, from Baton Rouge.
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