“Enough is enough” was the message on Wednesday night from NBA athletes, calling for an end to gun violence and racial profiling.

The recent shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by US police officers has led to protests across the globe and LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade all addressed the crowd at the ESPY Awards regarding the killing of black people at the hands of the police.

“The urgency to create change is at an all-time high,” Anthony said.

Paul, the nephew of a police officer, recited the names of several men who have been killed. Wade urged an end to racial profiling, shoot-to-kill mentality and “not seeing the value of black and brown bodies.”

“Enough is enough,” he said.

James echoed Wade, noting: “We all feel helpless and frustrated by the violence.”

It isn’t the first time James and Wade have protested against the death of a black man as both were part of the Miami Heat team in 2012 that posed in hoodies in a tribute to Trayvon Martin, who was killed by George Zimmerman.

James then urged his fellow pros to educate themselves and renounce violence while using their resources and time to help strengthen and rebuild their communities.

“We all to have do better,” he added.

In one of the night’s most emotional moments, Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old high school football player from Knoxville, Tennessee, was honoured posthumously with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for giving his life to shield two young women from gunfire last year. His mother Zenobia Dobson and two of his brothers accepted the trophy from Steph Curry.

Dobson told the audience that four months after her son’s death his 12-year-old cousin was killed in a drive-by shooting on his way home from a basketball game where Zaevion was honoured.

“I’m here to fight back,” Dobson said. “We as a country need to take a stand to consider the effects of gun violence on the families throughout the US.

Dobson called on the athletes to use their status as role models to help prevent more innocent lives from being lost.

“We need to rewrite laws to make it harder for people to get guns,” she said. “All the athletes in this room, you have a lot of power. People look up to you, I know Zaevion did. I urge you to think tonight about why he died and what you can do tomorrow to prevent the next innocent man or woman from being lost.”