At center court during the Golden State Warriors versus San Antonio Spurs game on Wednesday night, the team honored Civil Rights icon Tommie Smith. The track-and-field athlete won gold in the 200 meter dash at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, but would become better known for his silent protest during the medal ceremony.
The Warriors played a tribute video of Smith’s contributions toward the fight against racism and injustice and presented the trailblazer with a Warriors’ jersey: No. 68, to commemorate the year of his then-controversial silent protest, which Smith refers to as “a cry for freedom.”
On Tuesday, the Warriors spent time with Smith in a private meeting that head coach Steve Kerr called “a really special day.”
