Evans co-founded the Olympic Project for Human Rights and was part of the athlete's boycott and the Black Power movement.

Evans went on to Central Union High School where he was classified in the C class for the 660 yard dash due to his height, weight, and age.

Due to his mother contracting Valley fever, the Evans family moved to San Jose, California, during Lee's sophomore year.

[5] Evans was a Fulbright scholar in sociology[6] and attended San Jose State, where he was coached by Hall of Famer Bud Winter.

In regards to the South African Olympic Ban, Vince Matthews asked Evans what would happen after the verdict because of his position as OPHR organizer.

[12] After winning the AAU 400 m titles in 1969 and 1972, Evans finished only fourth in the 1972 Olympic trials, but was named a member of the 4 × 400 m relay team once more.

However, when the time came the United States could not field a team because Vincent Matthews and Wayne Collett were suspended by the IOC for a demonstration at a medal ceremony similar to the one staged by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the previous Olympics.

He had some success on the ITA tour notably setting a 600 m indoors world best at the first meet in Idaho State University's Minidome.