Muhammed Ali Defied the Vietnam Draft 50 Years Ago Today
If your idea of a politicized athlete is Colin Kaepernick, consider the stand taken by The Champ
By Joe Lapointe 04/28/17 7:00am
In the fuzzy, old color news film, the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a bit faded, but the voices are clear.
A reporter off-camera asks Dr. King about heavyweight champion boxer Cassius Clay, who refused to join the United States Army when drafted during the Vietnam War. Hes doing what hes doing on the basis of conscience, Dr. King says. Hes absolutely sincere. I will strongly endorse his actions.
In another clip from the same ABC newscast, Muhammad Alino longer Cassius Claysays he is a conscientious objector to war because he is a minister of the Nation of Islam.
In words that resonated differently on April 28, 1967 than they do today, Ali speaks of Allah, infidels and the Koran as reporters explore the Black Muslims he represents.
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http://observer.com/2017/04/50-years-ago-muhammad-ali-refuses-vietnam-draft/
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)"I'll beat 'em up but I won't kill 'em."
So the government said to him, "Well, if you won't kill 'em, we won't let you beat 'em up."
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)lunasun
(21,646 posts)They showed old clips of Ali giving his reasons and talked about how he was banned from boxing and his title taken away until his court case appealed