IE's Civil Rights Institute Opening With Words From Iconic US Athlete

RIVERSIDE, CA — A U.S. Olympic track-and-field athlete who raised his fist for racial justice during the 1968 summer games will be the keynote speaker at the opening of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California this month in Riverside County.

Dr. Tommie Smith, now 78 — who set a world record and earned a gold medal in the men's 200-meter sprint at the Mexico City Olympics — will also spend part of the opening evening signing copies of his new novel based on his life, “Victory! Stand. Raising my Fist for Justice” (Cellar Door Books).

The Civil Rights Institute of Southern California is located at 3933 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside. The opening celebration, which is free to attend, takes place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 (doors open at 5 p.m.). To register for the event, visit www.inlandcivilrights.org.

Opening night festivities include food trucks, outdoor live entertainment, the “Still I Rise: The Black IE Fight for Justice” exhibition, and a dedication of the Jose Medina Atrium.

According to an announcement for the event, the Civil Rights Institute of Southern California is "committed to preserving and showcasing the history of Inland activists, and empowering new generations to continue the hard-fought gains of past generations."

The institute is the centerpiece of the new, five-story Mission Heritage Plaza, which includes 72 units of affordable workforce housing and a new home for the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County.

The institute will continually offer cultural and social history exhibitions, an oral history recording studio and digital archives, and space for educational programs and performances in partnership with local school districts and organizations. A Walk of Fame will honor some of the region’s civil rights advocates.

“We are ensuring the structures are in place to empower new generations of advocates, allies and champions for racial equity, social justice and inclusion,” said Ronald Loveridge, president of the institute's board of directors. “The Civil Rights Institute is here to build a better future for everybody.”

Smith's attendance at the upcoming opening event will recall the fight for civil rights during the 1960s and historic images of the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. Gold medalist Smith and U.S. bronze medalist John Carlos silently raised their gloved fists during the national anthem to protest racism, in what became one of the most polarizing and iconic sports images of the 20th century. Australian Peter Norman took the silver medal in the event — the men's 200 meters in field and track.

Smith, the son of a sharecropper, endured death threats and painful repercussions years after the games, he has said.

Derrick Barnes, who co-authored “Victory! Stand. Raising my Fist for Justice,” will speak briefly introduce Smith. Barnes is the author of “The King of Kindergarten” (Nancy Paulsen Books) and “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” (Denene Millner Books).