NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have all spoken out against the issue of gun violence in America against African-Americans.
Tensions in the country are at an all-time high after the deaths of Atlon Sterling and Philando Castile by policemen were following by five Dallas police officers being killed during a protest in the Texas city.
The four players took to the stage at The ESPY Awards to speak directly to athletes in America to discuss "the current state of America". Anthony spoke about the "injustice, distrust and anger" among communities in America.
Paul, point-guard with the LA Clippers gave a list of seven people who were killed including Sterling and Castile, and claimed "this is our reality".
The 31-year-old mentioned people like Jessie Owens, Muhammad Ali and Billie-Jean King as athletes "who set a model for what athletes should stand for". Paul concluded that; "we choose to follow in their footsteps".
"Enough is enough."
Powerful message from LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/i1sTZTi8ny
— ESPYS (@ESPYS) July 14, 2016
Dwayne Wade, three-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat added that the the racial profiling, the shoot-to-kill mentality, the retaliation and the endless gun violence all "has to stop".
"As athletes, it's on us to challenge each other to do even more than we already do in our own communities... It wont always be convenient, it always wont be comfortable, but it is necessary".
LeBron James concluded that "we all have to do better" when asking "what are we doing to create change?"
The four players may now be seen as a new generation of activists in an era where the African-American community needs guidance, those sports stars may hold the key.
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