Help us empower athletes to fight for racial justice, even in the face of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) punishment and threats.

Dear John, 


When Olympic-level track and field athlete, Gwen Berry, raised her fist on the awards podium two years ago to protest racial injustice, she was treated like a pariah. All of her corporate sponsors dropped her. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemned her. Gwen was left without the income she needed to continue her hammer-throwing training and prepare for the upcoming Olympics.1

Since then, Color Of Change has stepped in to provide Gwen with financial sponsorship in support of her fight for justice. And in the face of a worldwide reckoning with anti-Black racism, the USOPC, who originally punished Gwen, changed their stance on protests, expressing they will not punish athletes who use the Olympic stage to protest the racial injustices that Black people face daily.2 But the IOC has not. Instead of supporting the athletes who fight for justice, the IOC is doubling down, committing to its discriminatory Rule 50 ban on protests. The IOC specifically noted it will punish athletes who raise a fist, take a knee, or wear clothing that states Black Lives Matter.3

Protesting for justice is not what’s unacceptable; it’s the IOC’s discriminatory stance on protests. We have already challenged the IOC to do better, but they doubled down instead. Now, we’re demanding the corporations who sponsor the Olympics to step in. 

We are less than two months from the Olympics Games. Make a $10 contribution now to help us fight against the IOC’s discriminatory Rule 50 ban on racial justice protests.

DONATE NOW

 

Until justice is real, 
The Color Of Change team 

 References:

  1. “I Used the Podium to Protest. The Olympic Committee Punished Me.,” The New York Times, September 7, 2020,  https://act.colorofchange.org/go/307633?t=6&akid=51091%2E4731121%2E7rxT0i
  2. “Listening to athletes, USOPC won’t punish Olympic protests,” Associated Press News, December 10, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/286055?t=8&akid=51091%2E4731121%2E7rxT0i
  3. “The IOC Is Now Daring Olympic Athletes to Protest,” The Nation, May 13, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/307634?t=10&akid=51091%2E4731121%2E7rxT0i

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.

Make a Donation

If you're absolutely sure you don't want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.