SJSU Olympic Monument by Ewingjr98
One of the more unique monuments in San Jose is the Olympic Monument at San Jose State University. This is a statue of the controversial moment at the 1968 Mexico Olympics when two American athletes chose to use the podium as a platform for a political statement. The athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, had both studied at San Jose State. They had just finished first and third in the 200 meter run and wore black gloves and raised their fists in protest of civil rights and racial injustice in America. The protest was frowned upon by the IOC because the Olympics have historically been a time when political differences were set aside in favor of international unity, and the athletes were suspended from the games. Some have praised their acts as bravery while others said the athletes disgraced America on an international stage.The monument was just unveiled in 2007 and is located on the SJSU campus beside Tower Hall.
