New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is putting out a call for change following the recent shootings of black men by police around the country.

At last night's annual ESPY Awards from ESPN, Anthony kicked off the program with fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul by addressing the growing unrest between police and the community.

"The events of the past week have put a spotlight on the injustice, distrust and the anger that's plagued so many of us," Anthony said. "The system is broken. The problems are not new. The violence is not new. And the racial divide is definitely not new. But the urgency to create change is at an all time high."

Anthony recently penned a post on Instagram expressing his frustration with what he called a broken political system.

Paul, who's uncle is a police officer, recited the names of several black men who have been killed, most of them by guns.

LeBron James added: "We all feel helpless and frustrated by the violence."

James also urged his fellow professional athletes to return to their communities and invest time and resources in helping rebuild them. He also encouraged them to educate themselves and renounce violence.

With reporting from the Associated Press.