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Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists on the podium to demand racial
Featured Event 1968 Event

October 18

Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Black Power Fists at the Olympics

Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists on the podium to demand racial justice, instantly triggering their suspension by the U.S. Olympic Committee. This bold act transformed a medal ceremony into a global symbol of protest that forced sports organizations worldwide to confront the intersection of athletics and civil rights.

October 18, 1968

58 years ago

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What Else Happened on October 18

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