By Staff Report, The Sun
Photo: AP FIle
The gold medalist will be keynote speaker when Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California opens Saturday, Oct. 22
October 5, 2022 – One of the two athletes who raised their fists during the 1968 Olympics will speak at the Saturday, Oct. 22, opening of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California in downtown Riverside.
Tommie Smith won a gold medal in the 200-meter sprint at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. While on the podium to receive his medal, Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos raised their gloved fists during the national anthem to protest racism.
The free event to mark the institute’s opening starts at 5:30 p.m. at 3933 Mission Inn Ave. The celebration will include food trucks, live entertainment, the “Still I Rise: The Black IE Fight for Justice” exhibition and dedication of the Jose Medina Atrium, a news release states.
