Beyoncé accepted the humanitarian BET award from Michelle Obama, and used her speech to make an important statement about continuing to take action to "dismantle a racist and unequal system".

Before Beyoncé's speech, Obama praises the icon for her commitment to the black communities, "You can see it in everything she does, from her music that gives voice to black joy and black pain, to her activism that demands justice for black lives."

The "Black Parade" singer opened her speech by dedicating it to the protesters, "I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote."

"I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to change and dismantle a racist and unequal system," Beyoncé added. "There are people banking on us staying at home during local elections and primaries happening in states across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does."

.@Beyonce's acceptance speech for her 'BET Humanitarian Award' #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/FqNHBBWKQk

— Beyoncé Charts (@yoncechart) June 29, 2020