Receive a free Activist Athlete shirt by making a $50 donation to help Color Of Change support Black athletes fighting for racial justice.

Gwen Berry wearing a black t-shirt that says "Activist Athlete." The image says "Join Color Of Change in supporting Black activist athletes during the Olympics." In the bottom right corner is the Color Of Change logo.

With the Tokyo Olympics just weeks away, show your support for Black athletes like Gwen Berry. Make a $50 donation and Color Of Change will send you your own Activist Athlete shirt designed by Gwen Berry herself and is a replica of the one she wore during her protest at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Dear John,

“If it wasn’t for Color Of Change, I probably would not be in this sport,” said Gwen Berry, a Black woman athlete, Olympian, record-holder in hammer-throwing, Pan-American gold medalist, and award-winning social justice activist. 

There is nothing more “Olympic” than fighting for justice. Black athletes protesting injustice is a commendable and crucial part of Black history. Think back to Rose Robinson’s refusal to stand for the national anthem during the 1959 Pan American Games.1 Or Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ iconic protest on the awards podium during the 1968 Olympics, when their raised fists became a symbol for racial justice that has stood the test of time.2 Despite these acts of selflessness, the Olympic Committee punished Berry for raising her fist at the 2019 Pan American Games to protest racial injustice, her corporate sponsors subsequently dropped her, and, just this past weekend, Berry was the target of a wave of death threats for her protest at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.3

With our members’ support, Color Of Change was able to step in to provide Berry with financial sponsorship and push AirBnB and Puma to uphold her and become her corporate sponsors.4,5 The fight continues as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has maintained its discriminatory Rule 50 ban on racial justice protests—including banning athletes from wearing anything that says “Black Lives Matter.”6 Be a part of history and join Color Of Change in supporting Berry and Black women athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. 

DONATE NOWThis gift is only available to U.S. residents. Please ensure that your address is up to date when making your donation and allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. For any questions, please contact [email protected]. 

Until justice is real, 
The Color Of Change team 

 References

  1. “Sixty Years Ago She Refused to Stand for the Anthem,” Zora/Medium, September 26, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/226239?t=7&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2.
  2. “U.S. Olympians, John Carlos call on IOC to abolish anti-protest rule,” Yahoo! Sports, June 27, 2020,  https://act.colorofchange.org/go/267800?t=9&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2.
  3. “I Used the Podium to Protest. The Olympic Committee Punished Me.,” The New York Times, September 7, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/267799?t=11&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2
  4. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/311605?t=13&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2. 
  5. Adam Kilgore, “After shaping protest rules in the U.S., Gwen Berry has a new sponsor and an eye on Tokyo,” Washington Post, June 21, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/311606?t=15&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2. 
  6. Dave Zirin, “The IOC Is Now Daring Olympic Athletes to Protest,” The Nation, May 13, 2021, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/307634?t=17&akid=51260%2E4731121%2EKgjcw2.

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.

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