In a powerful display of protest, India's top wrestlers, who were recently removed from their Jantar Mantar protest site, on Tuesday announced their decision to immerse their hard-earned medals into Ganga. Additionally, they have declared their intention to stage a hunger strike "until death" at India Gate, as they continue to voice their grievances. This bold move echoes a historical event when renowned boxer Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, threw his Olympic Gold Medal into the Ohio River in 1960 to protest racial segregation.
Drawing Inspiration From Muhammad Ali
Recalling Muhammad Ali's iconic protest serves as a reminder that athletes have a long history of using their platform to bring attention to societal issues.
Ali, who was denied service at a white-owned restaurant due to racial discrimination, expressed his frustration by tossing his Olympic Gold Medal into the river.
In his autobiography titled "The Greatest," Ali recounted the incident, revealing the discriminatory treatment he faced as an Olympic champion. The poignant act was a powerful statement against racial segregation in the US during the era of the Jim Crow laws.
Ali's gesture was a significant act of defiance, fueled by the pain of discrimination and injustice. He vividly described the encounter, saying, "I came back to Louisville after the Olympics with my shiny gold medal. Went into a luncheonette where black folks couldn't eat. Thought I'd put them on the spot. I sat down and asked for a meal. The Olympic champion wearing his gold medal. They said, 'We don't serve ni**ers here.' I said, 'That's okay, I don't eat 'em.' But they put me out in the street. So I went down to the river, the Ohio River, and threw my gold medal in it."
Ali Honoured With Replacement Medal
In a turn of events, Muhammad Ali was awarded a replacement Gold Medal in 1996, 36 years after his historic act of protest. During the Atlanta Olympics, he inaugurated the Games by lighting the Olympic flame. The then President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, presented Ali with the Gold Medal during the intermission of the US Vs Yugoslavia basketball game.