1968day.year
Tommie Smith and John Carlos are ejected from the US Olympic team for participating in the Olympics Black Power salute.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos are expelled from the Olympic Games for their Black Power protest on the podium.
At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics on October 16, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos delivered the iconic Black Power salute during the 200m medal ceremony.
Each raised a black-gloved fist while the U.S. national anthem played, protesting racial injustice at home.
The International Olympic Committee demanded their expulsion, deeming the gesture a political protest.
Both athletes were suspended and sent home amid international debate.
Their act became a powerful symbol of the civil rights movement and highlighted the role of sports in social activism.
Decades later, Smith and Carlos were honored for their courage and lasting impact on human rights.
1968
Olympics Black Power salute