Explained in plain English

What did the 1968 Olympians protest?

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists during the US national anthem. This 'Black Power salute' protested racial injustice and human rights abuses in the United States. Their actions, like the Irish team's anthem protest, highlighted how sport can be a platform for political statements.