Statue honors stand at 1968 Olympics

[Fiona]

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 multimedia sculpture.

"It's an honor for us, but we also realize this isn't all aboutus any more," said Smith, 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.

Actor Delroy Lindo, San Jose State president Don Kassing and several city officials also gave praise to the athletes and marveled at the statue unveiled 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 his home in Australia. "These two men gave away that Olympic glory in 1968, and you, San Jose State University, are giving that back to them today."

Smith, Carlos and Norman all received criticism and threats for their participation in the gesture, which was made late in 1968, after the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy brought the nation to a social boil.

But back at San Jose State, Smith and Carlos also received praise for their social conscience from students and former president Robert Clark, who called them "honorable young men." Clark, who died in June, was praised by the sprinters and current school president Kassing.

The statue was unveiled in the gloaming while a singer sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." Perhaps appropriately, the black cloth covering the statue got stuck twice during its removal — once on each raised fist.

The front podium where Norman stood is empty, and visitors are encouraged to climb onto it to "take a stand," according to the inscription in the cement.

"It looks even better than I thought it would look," said the 60-year-old Carlos, one year older than Smith. "That's a couple of good-looking young men up there on that podium, and they'll stay like that forever."

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