Carmelo Anthony urges athletes to lead charge for reform

Carmelo Anthony wants pro athletes to “step up and take charge” in the wake of racial and social unrest.

As the country reels in the wake of the deaths of two unarmed black civilians and five Dallas police officers, a number of pro athletes have turned to mainstream media to take a stand and call for change. New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony added his voice to the chorus on Friday afternoon, penning an impassioned paragraph to his online website in which he implored fellow athletes to spearhead the charge for reform.

In the short essay, Melo acknowledges that while he doesn’t have a solution, and most people “don’t have a solution,” it’s never been more important for people to “come together” and “demand change.” He specifically calls on his fellow athletes and brothers in the NBA to use their influence and platform as tools in the fight for civic reform.

Notably, Anthony admits that while the “system is broken” and has been “forever,” he laments the shootings and deaths of the law enforcement officers as a method that “WILL NOT work” in the quest for justice for victims of police brutality. It’s a seemingly logical statement, but still a strong one considering the simmering tension between social movements like Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, which increasingly seem to put U.S. citizens at odds over issues like racial profiling and acceptable levels of police force.

Anthony also seems to recognize his own position as one of the most prominent African Americans in the sports and public spheres and has decided “the time is now” to demand change in ending discrimination once and for all. It’s a noble rallying cry and one that hopefully will not only be answered by his fellow athletes but might also do some good in accomplishing its aims.

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