So much of the activism of NFL players is directed toward social justice causes, but recently retired tight end Benjamin Watson is providing a refreshing exception to the norm. A devout pro-life Christian who played pro ball from 2004 to 2019, he's produced a pro-life documentary called "Divided Hearts of America." Believe it or not, the Washington Post gave Watson an opportunity to plug it Sunday on page A6.
In an interview, Watson (appearing in a scene from the film, right) turned sports feature writer Kent Babb's question about activism into an opportunity to speak about the movie. Produced by Movie to Movement, Watson conducts 40 interviews in the film to be released in theaters later this year. The movie's website says "Divided Hearts of America" "powerfully exposes the brutality of abortion and the American abortion industry, and showcases the beauty and dignity of every human life."
Babb asked Watson about having a degree in finance and having dabbled in activism on criminal justice reform and ending global slavery and what gets him excited about the rest of his life.
Watson, who gave a stirring confession of faith at the 2015 Athletes In Action Super Bowl breakfast in Phoenix, says he's been working with a ministry called Pro Athletes Outreach throughout his football career. He's most passionate about things of faith:
"Right now I’m working on a documentary on abortion, which is another controversial topic. It’s called 'Divided Hearts of America,' and we’re looking to release it in the fall of this year. I kind of went on a journey of interviewing about 40 different voices — from politicians to people in academia to people who have survived abortions to doctors, people who are on both sides of the spectrum and some people that are kind of in the middle — to get an understanding and truth about abortion and what’s the history behind it and why is it necessary or not necessary and just where we are as a country in this issue. There’s really no other issue that divides us as much as this one — and rightly so."
With the adoption of new state laws on both sides of the abortion divide, the tenor of the debate has gotten louder in recent times, sparking Watson's interest in making the movie. New York's passage of the Reproductive Health Act is one of the most expansive abortion bills in history and sparked outrage across the country. Alabama and Georgia passed laws restricting abortion, drawing much criticism from news and sports media.
Watson, the father of seven children, gave a partial screening of the film at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year. Among those giving their views on abortion in the documentary are former President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Benjamin Carson, Martin Luther King Junior's niece Alveda King and the founder of the pro-life group New Wave Feminists, Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa.
The documentary focuses on the division over abortion in America and the arguments from both sides of the debate. It covers race, politics, medicine and ethics in connection with abortion.
