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-Tommie Smith, Peter Norman, and John Carlos had to be prepared for what would be coming their way after the protest.
-All three individuals received death threats and no support from their own country.

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-Today, there has been athletes taking their stance on what they believe on a national stage.
-Colin Kaepernick is one example of how he has risked his job, in order to gain awareness to the inequality in the United States.

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-Before Tommie Smith and John Carlos took the stand on the podium at the 1968 Olympics they had already planned the protest that would occur.
-The first goal was to place during the 200 meter race
-After winning the gold and bronze medals, they knew what they had to do to gain national attention to African American inequality in the United States.

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Reflection of Smith winning the race and what was going through his mind.

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tommie smith reflects on the 1968 olympics - cnn video

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Tommie Smith reflects on the 1968 Olympics - CNN Video

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Tommie Smith relives his 1968 200m gold medal run, a moment that proved to be bigger than just a race.

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“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color"

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-Tommie Smith and John Carols were forced to leave the Olympic village following the protest.
-Peter Norman was stripped of his medal and not allowed to race in the following Olympics despite having qualifying times.
-In 2005 San Jose University added these statues to their campus

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he refused to stand during the national anthem Friday because of his views on the country's treatment of racial minorities.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media after Friday's game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

The 49ers acknowledged in a statement that Kaepernick sat on the team's bench during the national anthem before their game against the Green Bay Packers.

The Colin Kaepernick Saga
"The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony," the statement said. "It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."
Kaepernick told NFL Media that he did not tell the team he was planning to protest the national anthem.

"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."

Kaepernick also refused to stand for the national anthem during the other preseason games, but he wasn't dressed for those contests because of tightness in his right shoulder.

The NFL said in a statement Saturday that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem."

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way." - 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, on his decision to sit during the national anthem

Pro Football Talk initially reported that Kaepernick did not stand during the anthem. He was not asked about his decision during his postgame news conference, which was held before the Pro Football Talk report.

Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents. He has been outspoken on his Twitter account on civil rights issues and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Numerous high-profile athletes have spoken out about civil rights issues in the wake of gun violence throughout the United States. In July, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul opened the ESPYS with a call for social change and an end to violence, and WNBA players wore warm-up shirts to show solidarity after shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was killed by gunfire in Chicago on Friday, a day after Wade participated in a series of panel discussions on gun violence hosted by The Undefeated on ESPN.

Kaepernick told NFL Media that he had thought about going public with his feelings for a while but that "I felt that I needed to understand the situation better."

Kaepernick joins team sports athletes including Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Carlos Delgado in refusing to participate during patriotic American songs. Abdul-Rauf was suspended one game by the NBA in 1996 for not standing during the national anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs. He later agreed to stand and pray silently during the song. Delgado would leave the field in 2004 during "God Bless America" in protest of the Iraq War.

Kaepernick made his preseason debut against the Packers. He went 2-for-6 for 14 yards and added 18 yards on four carries in the 49ers' 21-10 loss.
ESPN staff writer Nick Wagoner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is featured on ESPN.com

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Colin Kaepernick protests anthem over treatment of minorities

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he refused to stand during the national anthem Friday because of his views on the country's treatment of racial minorities. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media after Friday's game.

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The movement created by African Americans because of the ongoing struggles to gain equal rights.

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After winning the gold medal Smith was interviewed to explain the actions he made on the podium.

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Black Power Salute Rocks 1968 Olympics - ABC News - October 17, 1968

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Won the gold medal in the 200m race. Held his fist in the air on the podium during the National Anthem.

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"...amateur Black athletes formed the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) to organize an African American boycott of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. "

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Won the silver medal in the 200m race. Norman also was wearing a OPHR badge on his tracksuit for a silent protest. He was not allowed to race for Australia 1972 despite having times to qualify.

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Won the bronze medal in the 200m race. Held his fist in the air on the podium during the National Anthem.

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-Sociologist who was the lead organizer of the Olympic Project.
-They had planned to make a protest on the podium for months prior to the Olympic games.

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Following the events of Kaepernick kneeling for the National Anthem Nike sponsored him.