Toward the end of Kamala Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia Monday night, Oprah Winfrey invited 10 first-time voters on stage. Several spoke about the importance of the next day’s general election.
Among them was Eddy Davis, a familiar face to those following the Philadelphia Union’s reserve team, the Union II.
“And Eddy, I heard you stood in line [for the rally] because …,” Winfrey asked, leading him into his answer.
“Because, honestly it was an honor as an African American to exercise my right to vote, which my ancestors fought so hard for,” Davis replied, with his hands behind his back and leaning his 6-foot frame forward to be close to the microphone. “As a professional soccer player for the Philadelphia Union, I know that God, he gave me the opportunity to be a leader and this platform to encourage my peers and all of you out here to stand for what’s right. GO, Kamala!”
Davis wasn’t chosen to be on stage by pure chance. Some family members are friends with Oprah, and he said he’s known her since he was about 8.
“[Oprah’s] team reached out to my mom like literally seven hours before the rally and asked if I could be one of the 10 new voters. Only three [would be] speaking, so they asked me to be one of them. So super honored to do that.”
Davis led the Union in goals this season with 13. He’s part of the squad that will face North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro Cup final this Saturday, after winning the team’s first-ever Eastern Conference Championship last weekend.
While still only 18 years old, Davis is no stranger to facing big moments, and he counts being up on stage Monday as one of them.
“That was an incredible moment in history,” he said. “My parents always taught me to fight for what you believe in and to stand on it and don’t let anyone else change how you feel about it.”
Davis added that his parents taught him to be a leader and use his platform to lead. He voted early, in case any scheduling conflicts came up on Election Day, and said it still included more than 3 hours of waiting in line.
“But it was worth it,” he said. “My voice matters, everyone’s voice matters, so I had to make it happen.”
Of course, things didn’t work out the way Davis would have preferred, but he was not carrying that when Billy Penn spoke to him after Wednesday’s morning training session.
“Obviously, I had a belief and it didn’t end up turning out. but there is nothing I can really do about it,” he said. “Like everyone has their own political view and what they believe in. So I’m never gonna disrespect that. Obviously, I respect everyone’s point of view, but a bit disappointed that it didn’t go the way I thought it would go.”
Davis said that he still plans to talk with those close to him that have opposing political views to get their perspective, and convey his own.
Like most people, Davis doesn’t get to retreat from his day job. Instead, he’s headed straight into the biggest challenge of his professional life — helping Union II to its first national championship.
“I’m obviously really excited,” he said. “We put in a lot of hard work this season, so it’s time to see the work pay off.”
