Historically, sporting events have been the stage for more than sports. Athletic games have also served as a platform for protests. U.S. Athletes have used their status to speak up against social injustices, wars, and police brutality. Here are just some of the most historical athletic protests in history:
1967 - During the Vietnam war, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted in a war he didn't believe in (he refused induction into the U.S. Army 3 times), which led to Ali being stripped of his heavyweight title.
1968 - Perhaps the most historic athletic protest took place at the 1968 Olympics. While accepting their medals the two runners, Tommie Smith and John Carlos held up the Black Power fist during the national anthem. It was a statement seen around the world.
They were banned from the U.S. team and criticized by the nation for being anti-America. And although the two athletes are now celebrated for bringing attention to inequality, the backlash they recieved at the time is not too different from the current backlash surrounding athletes who are kneeling (or raising a fist like Carlos and Smith) during the national anthem.
2004 - A baseball player for Toronto, Carlo Delgado, sat in the dug out during the playing of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning. He refused to sing because he disagreed with the Iraq war. Delgado used his power to voice his opinion regarding the war, a decision many criticized at the time.
2012-2014 - Uniforms also serve as a way for athletes to call attention to social issues. Another very famous and more recent sports protest took place in 2012 when NBA players including LeBron James wore hoodies to honor and call attention to the death of Trayvon Martin. In 2014, NBA players James, his teammate Kyle Irving, and other players throughout the league wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups, in solidarity with with protestors after Eric Garner's death. With the Black Lives Matter movement and recent protesting against police brutality and racial injustice, many professional athletes have spoken up about the issue in various ways.
2016 - A current protest movement that has gained public attention was started is by Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, a football player for the 49ers, kneeled on the filed during the national anthem as a protest to racial injustice. Many athletes have followed this year including players from the NFL, NBA, soccer teams, college teams and even high school athletes. This has sparked public attention to athletes and their decision to make a stand.
Kaepernick, along with Smith, Carlos, Delgado James and many other athletes throughout history, all used their role as an athlete as a platform to make public statements.
1967 - During the Vietnam war, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted in a war he didn't believe in (he refused induction into the U.S. Army 3 times), which led to Ali being stripped of his heavyweight title.
1968 - Perhaps the most historic athletic protest took place at the 1968 Olympics. While accepting their medals the two runners, Tommie Smith and John Carlos held up the Black Power fist during the national anthem. It was a statement seen around the world.
They were banned from the U.S. team and criticized by the nation for being anti-America. And although the two athletes are now celebrated for bringing attention to inequality, the backlash they recieved at the time is not too different from the current backlash surrounding athletes who are kneeling (or raising a fist like Carlos and Smith) during the national anthem.
2004 - A baseball player for Toronto, Carlo Delgado, sat in the dug out during the playing of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning. He refused to sing because he disagreed with the Iraq war. Delgado used his power to voice his opinion regarding the war, a decision many criticized at the time.
2012-2014 - Uniforms also serve as a way for athletes to call attention to social issues. Another very famous and more recent sports protest took place in 2012 when NBA players including LeBron James wore hoodies to honor and call attention to the death of Trayvon Martin. In 2014, NBA players James, his teammate Kyle Irving, and other players throughout the league wore "I Can't Breathe" shirts during warm-ups, in solidarity with with protestors after Eric Garner's death. With the Black Lives Matter movement and recent protesting against police brutality and racial injustice, many professional athletes have spoken up about the issue in various ways.
2016 - A current protest movement that has gained public attention was started is by Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, a football player for the 49ers, kneeled on the filed during the national anthem as a protest to racial injustice. Many athletes have followed this year including players from the NFL, NBA, soccer teams, college teams and even high school athletes. This has sparked public attention to athletes and their decision to make a stand.
Kaepernick, along with Smith, Carlos, Delgado James and many other athletes throughout history, all used their role as an athlete as a platform to make public statements.