Colin Kaepernick may have started the protests during the singing of the national anthem, but almost all NBA teams have showed their own public demonstrations of unity against racially-charged violence the country is now facing.

New York Knicks‘ forward Carmelo Anthony has a different take on it. Although he doesn't take away anything from the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback, he also wants change to happen through actions and not just by staying quiet. Per Howard Beck and Jonathan Abrams of Bleacher Report:

“He’s done it. He was courageous enough to do that. He created that. He created the kneeling and that protest. And people fell in line with that. Some people supported it. Some people didn’t. But at the end of the day, and I’m not taking nothing away from him…I just don’t think the gesturing is creating anything. I think it’s bringing awareness, but I think doing stuff and creating awareness in the communities [is more effective].”

“I’m past the gestures. I’m past that. It’s all about creating things now and putting things in motion. So, that’s what I’m on. I’m trying to get guys on board with that and help them understand that—enough of the gesturing and talking and all of that stuff—we need to start putting things in place.”

Anthony understands the power of sports today and how much awareness they can make from leading by example. A number of former and current NBA players, as well as coaches, have all chimed in on the ongoing protests and all agreed that actions speak louder than these gestures.

Memphis Grizzlies‘ point guard Mike Conley couldn't have been any more on point with his statement.

“Each time something tragic happens, whether it's to the police or to an innocent civilian, it's something that  hurts you, and silence isn't going to change anything.”

NBA legend Charles Barkley, who has always been known to be one of the most outspoken athletes, echoed Conley's and Anthony's call for some sense of urgency by acting on the issue. He had this to say:

“Everybody’s engaged already. Everybody’s talking about it and know about it. I’m just a bit more big on action. Once you get off your knee, like, ‘OK, what are you doing?’ Because football season is going to be over soon. And the question is: How long do you do it? When is it over?’”

“It’s too late for symbolic. You gotta actually do something.”

The NBA community has since made some significant actions after the number of acts of protests done before games.

Dwyane Wade of the Chicago Bulls organized a bike ride with police officers in Miami, the New Orleans Pelicans hosted a forum about race and relationships in their practice facility and DeMarcus Cousins had an event where police and community leaders in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama took center stage, just to name a few.

A lot more of these can be expected after Anthony's call, and being the NBPA's Vice President, it will not be surprising if the players' union will also follow suit.