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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Muhammad Ali: Anti-War/Civil Rights Activist Muhammad Ali: Anti-War/Civil Rights Activist by Stephen Lendman On Friday, June 3, boxing great Muhammad Ali died at age 74 in Phoenix after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Over time, it eroded his motor skills and ability to speak coherently. His wife Lonnie said even though his speech was impaired, “he sp(oke) to people with his eyes…with his heart, and they connect(ed) with him.” Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, rejected what he called his “slave name.” Muhammad Ali replaced it. In 1975, he converted to Sunni Islam after Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad died. He refused army induction during the Vietnam war, publicly calling himself a conscientious objector, famously saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.” At his scheduled Houston army induction on April 28, 1967, he refused three times to step forward after his name was called. Warned he was committing a felony, he stood firm. Arrest followed. The New York State Athletic Commission stripped him of his boxing license and world heavyweight championship title. Other US boxing commissions followed suit. Ali couldn’t box anywhere for over three years. On June 20, 1967, a jury found him guilty. An appellate court upheld it. Ali remained free pending the result of his Supreme Court appeal. On June 28, 1971, the High Court unanimously ruled in his favor at a time of nationwide anti-war activism - not based on his claims, because the appellate court gave no reason for denying his right to conscientiously object. His conviction was reversed. He inspired Martin Luther King to voice public opposition to the war. Famously he called America “(t)he greatest purveyor of violence in the world - my own government. I cannot be silent.” Ali’s anti-war activism “robbed (him) of his best years, his prime years,” his trainer Angelo Dundee explained. Perhaps his best remembered quotes were, saying “I am the greatest,” and “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” He’s less well-known for saying “I know I got it made while other black folks are out there catchin hell, but as long as they ain’t free, I ain’t free.” Boxing is a violent sport, yet Ali espoused peace and nonviolence, opposed militarism, resisted racial discrimination and injustice. His star power made his comments resonate. He abhorred the way Washington uses federal tax revenues for war-making, once saying: “I buy a lot of bullets, at least three jet bombers a year, and pay the salary of 50,000 fighting men with the money they take from me after my fights.” “Boxing is nothing like going to war with machine guns, bazookas, hand grenades, bomber airplanes. My intention is to box, to win a clean fight. But in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and continue killing innocent people.” Ali used his fame to fight for justice outside the ring, fearlessly speaking his mind publicly. The world’s most famous pugilist became an anti-war, civil rights, nonviolence champion. A personal note: In the early 1970s while Ali was still active in the ring, I ran into him in the lobby of my office building. He was with several others at the time. We passed like ships in the night. I didn’t intrude to chat. Looking back, I wish I’d have extended my hand in friendship. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
(Edited)
3 Ali stories. When I worked in the Pentagon he was riding in one of those battery powered vehicles with seats for eight and VIP touring the Hall of Heroes. I gave him a wave and he responded in kind. Five minutes later, I thought, hey that guy was a draft dodger...but, no big deal. Several years later I was flying from Louisville to Atlanta for some sort of business trip. I noticed him appear out of nowhere and I sat two seats from him in the waiting area. After a minute we exchanged glances and we shook hands. I said, "Hey champ!" Then he did his signature pose with his fists up and a smile on his face. He was flying first class and when I watched (from coach) the 5'2" flight attendant help him take off his suit jacket, with a bit of a struggle, tears welled in my eyes. Years later, one of my older tavern buddies told me his story. He was drafted in the Army circa 1962 and reported to the Louisville military/induction facility for processing. They paged Cassius Clay about 4 or 5 times that day. My buddy claims to have shouted out, "That nigger ain't going to show up."
#2. To: Fred Mertz (#1)
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