Protest at ‘68 Olympics immortalized

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the sprinters who staged a historic civil-rights protest on the medal podium at the 1968 Olympics, have been immortalized in a statue of bronze, steel and tile unveiled Monday night at San Jose State.

The image of Smith and Carlos – heads bowed, shoes off and black-gloved fists silently raised in Mexico City during the national anthem – is an iconic memory of the civil rights movement. The vibrant 20-foot statue of the former Spartans was revealed at dusk after an impassioned two-hour ceremony mixing sports memories, politics and pleas for social awareness.

Hundreds of students, friends and family members gathered to hear speeches and tributes to the men before crowding around the creation of Rigo 23, a Portuguese-born artist who captured a seminal moment of black pride in an inventive sculpture.

“It’s an honor for us, but we also realize this isn’t all about us any more,” said Smith, 59, the gold medalist in the 200 meters in 1968. “The history of what happened will live on long after we’re gone, and I’m just glad a part of it will live at San Jose State.”

Peter Norman, the Australian silver medalist who defiantly wore a button supporting Smith and Carlos on the podium, also attended the ceremony along with former Olympian Lee Evans, another San Jose State track star and a founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights along with Smith and Carlos.

San Jose State president Don Kassing was among those who praised the athletes 37 years and a day after the gesture.

“It was like a pebble into the middle of a pond, and the ripples are still traveling,” said Norman, who traveled from Australia. “These two men gave away that Olympic glory in 1968, and you, San Jose State University, are giving that back to them today.”