LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul Open ESPYs With Powerful Message (VIDEO)

After last week’s horrific events once again revealed many of America’s biggest problems, Carmelo Anthony called on his fellow athletes “to step up and take charge” and demand change. At the 2016 ESPYs, Melo took the call to action a step further when he, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul stood on stage together to accept their roles as community unifiers.

Citing athletes who stood for civil rights like Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown, and Arthur Ashe, the superstars said they would follow in their predecessor’s footsteps and be this era’s face of change. Sending a message to all the other athletes in the crowd and watching at home, the foursome challenged them to get involved in the communities that raised them and be a catalyst for change.