Black Power Salute Apology for Peter Norman
Australian sprinter PETER NORMAN, blacklisted for supporting the Black Power protesters at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, after 44 years may finally receive an apology from the Australian Parliament.
Norman, who still holds the Australian record, ran second in the men's 200m final winning the silver medal. On the podium, he wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge to support African-American athletes Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze), who gave the black power salute. Norman was punished for his involvement and blacklisted from the 1972 Munich Games, despite qualifying for the 100m and 200m events in world-beating times. He quit athletics in protest.
Extract from the proposed apology: “….Apologises to Peter Norman for the wrong done by Australia in failing to send him to the 1972 Munich Olympics, despite repeatedly qualifying; and belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality.”
Smith and Carlos, each suspended from the US track and field team, have never received a similar apology.
Norman, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 64, is the subject of the award winning documentary ‘SALUTE’ which documents the complete story of the 1968 black power salute. SALUTE was recently released in cinemas in the UK and is available now on DVD and On Demand.
SALUTE IS OUT NOW ON DVD AND ON DEMAND