ESPN does actually have a "no-politics policy." It's outlined in the link below. The key wording in the policy is "unless it intersects with sports." Given the number of NBA and WNBA players who have taken up the Breonna Taylor issue, IMHO that falls under "intersects with sports." Others will clearly disagree.
ESPN wants to avoid its hosts commenting on pure politics (there are plenty of places to go for that) but don't confuse politics with non-sports issues. As long as athletes are taking the lead on social justice issues, ESPN will (and should) cover it. Same with "political" issues that have a direct effect on players and teams.
Think of it this way, if ESPN were around during the 1968 Olympics should they have covered the John Carlos and Tommie Smith black power salute or ignored it? Or in 1972 should they have covered the murders of members of the Israeli delegation at the Munich Olympics or ignored that? Those are both "political" issues.
https://www.courant.com/sports/hc-s...0190721-kwovmtulc5bezcgpma3eb53u7y-story.html