The Lives and Legacies of America's Most Controversial
Sports Icons
How were the political stances of each athlete received in regards to...
ALI
KAEPERNICK
Other Athletes?
In 1967, a meeting that would later be deemed the “Muhammad Ali Summit” was held at the offices of the Negro Industrial Economic Union. Cleveland Browns Running Back Jim Brown organized this event in the midst of uproar surrounding Ali’s draft evasion conviction. Other athletes in attendance included Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Many of those in attendance did not share Ali’s views of Vietnam; however, those in attendance wanted to show their solidarity with Ali and support the conviction that black athletes have the right to use their platforms to speak out. For a more detailed account of the summit, click here.
Philadelphia Eagles Safety founded the Players Coalition - a group of socially aware players fighting to bring attention to systemic inequality in America. Prior to the beginning of the 2018 season, the Players Coalition released an open letter where they pledged to continue their fight. The letter also praised Colin Kaepernick: “‘Colin Kaepernick started a movement through protest, taking a knee to put a laser focus on the men and women who have died because of police brutality,’ the players wrote. ‘His efforts have inspired us to work on behalf of our lost brothers' memory to try to stop the carnage. He did this at great personal cost to himself. Surely it's an act of patriotism to forfeit your job to fight for others.’”
The government?
Initially:
Ali was convicted of draft evasion in June of 1967, and sentenced to five years in prison, a fine of $10,000, and banned from boxing for three years.
In 1971, Ali’s conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court.
Later:
President George W. Bush awarded Ali with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
President Barack Obama wrote a tribute to Ali, that was read at the boxer’s funeral. In the tribute, President Obama asserts that: “Muhammad Ali was America. He will always be America.”
President Trump considered pardoning Ali for his already overturned 1967 conviction for draft evasion. In the discussions, President Trump recalls: “Look, he was not very popular then. Certainly his memory is very popular now.”
Politicians:
President Donald Trump has been especially vocal about his opposition to Kaepernick and the NFL protests.
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NFL Response:
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On May 23rd, 2018, the NFL voted to enact a policy wherein all players must “show respect for the flag and the anthem.” If the league finds a player guilty of violating this policy, the team will be fined.
