Max Elbaum presents Sports and Resistance

• In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, US track athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, medaled in the 200-meter race and used their podium moment to show their solidarity with the social struggles back home.
• In 1967, Kathrine Switzer battled sexism and belief that women were not physically capable of running a marathon by registering for the Boston Marathon as “K. Switzer,” as women were not allowed to race. Even though she was technically thrown out of the race for being a women, she crossed the finish line at 4 hours 20 minutes.
• Every four years, Peace and Dignity Runs are organized in North and South America to unite all Indigenous Peoples in the Western Hemisphere spiritually, to heal our nations and work towards a better future for all our children. The 2012 Peace and Dignity Run is dedicated to water as a critical and necessary resource to the daily life of all human beings and yet is controlled by private companies.

Inspiring.

With various social justice organizations officially part of the Oakland Running Festival—Ella Baker Center, Causa Justa::Just Cause, APEN and Black Organizing Project—we have taken our first step towards leverage the Oakland Running Festival to convey a unified social justice movement in Oakland.

On the weekend of March 26 and March 27, we will be proud to be at the start line among our allies in solidarity for a more just Oakland.

**The Last day to register for Team Ella Baker Center is Thursday, March 10.