Seventy-one-year-old Olympian John Carlos, who raised his fist in protest at the 1968 Olympics – one of the most iconic images in sports even today – after receiving a bronze medal says he supports and applauds 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick for protesting the national anthem.
In an interview with Reuters, Monday, the legendary Olympian stated:
“[Colin’s] bringing attention to (the issues). And how did he bring attention to them? The same way we did 48 years ago in terms of giving America shock treatment. That’s the only way they move, man: is when you shock them… This is a movement, this is not a moment.”
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“We were gardeners and caretakers. We till the earth. We plant the seeds. We water the ground. And what you see today is the fruit of our labor,” Carlos said. “This is a movement, this is not a moment,” he continued.
“All we’re saying is we wrap ourselves around the American flag, but the American flag, we want you to wrap your arms around us. And be true about it,” Carlos asserted.
Carlos also faced criticism after his protest in 1968.
Kaepernick’s protest draws attention to the same racial injustice that continues to persist in America today. Read the full interview, here.