Sports took a backseat at the start of the 2020 ESPYs on ESPN on Sunday.
Hosts Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird called for social justice, an end to racism and for everyone to embrace the idea that Black lives matter at the start of the show. Wilson listed the names of iconic athletes who fought for social justice—"Jackie, Bill, Ali, Serena"—and said "What if we didn't know their names? What if they were never part of the conversation?"
He then transitioned to pointing to Black people who have been recently killed due to racism and police brutality, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.