Sports

Tommie Smith to return to Mexico City to light Raiders torch

  • Courier Newsroom

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) _ Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith will return to Mexico City to light the torch honoring late Raiders owner Al Davis before Oakland plays Houston in an NFL game.
Smith will make his second trip back to Mexico City since he famously raised his black-gloved fist with bronze medalist John Carlos as a sign of black power following his win in the 200-meter finals at the 1968 Olympics.

File-This July 16, 2008, file photo shows Tommie Smith, left, and John Carlos accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYs Awards in Los Angeles. Smith and Carlos, the American sprinters whose raised-fist salutes at the 1968 Olympics are an ageless sign of race-inspired protest, will join the U.S. Olympic team at the White House next week for its meeting with President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
File-This July 16, 2008, file photo shows Tommie Smith, left, and John Carlos accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYs Awards in Los Angeles. Smith and Carlos, the American sprinters whose raised-fist salutes at the 1968 Olympics are an ageless sign of race-inspired protest, will join the U.S. Olympic team at the White House next week for its meeting with President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Raiders owner Mark Davis invited Smith to join the team on its trip for Monday night’s game and light the torch that honors his father, who was a leading force in hiring minorities and women to major jobs in football.
Smith told ESPN that it’s an “historic moment” and praised the Raiders for always standing for diversity and civil rights.
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