UK - London - John Carlos speaks at Resistance: Olympic Spirit conference at Friends House.
Resistance: The best Olympic Spirit. With John Carlos, Doreen Lawrence, Janet Alder and others. John Carlos on stage talking about his lifelong experience with political struggle and the personal costs he has had to pay. John Carlos won Bronze in the 200 Olympics final in 1968 in Mexico. He and his fellow black American runner, Tommie Smith who won Gold, raised their black gloved fists, wearing no shoes, on the podium to highlight the plight of black Americans. Both lost their medals and were expelled from the American Olympic team and sent home where they faced years of death threats and struggling to keep their careers going. The image of the two men became an iconic symbol of standing up against oppression not just for black Americans but worldwide.
