John Legend And Jesse Williams Making Movie On 1968 Olympics Protest

Amid NFL protests against racial injustice and police brutality, John Legend and Jesse Williams are bringing one of the most famous athlete protests to film.

The two are executive producing a new documentary called “With Drawn Arms” about Olympic gold medalist and NFL wide receiver Tommie Smith and his Olympic protest, Deadline reported Thursday.

In 1968, Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in demonstration against racial discrimination during the national anthem after placing first and third in the 200-meter dash.

"If I win I am an American, not a black American. But if I did something bad then they would say 'a Negro'. We are black and we are proud of being black,” Smith said at a press conference after the event.

“Black America will understand what we did tonight.”

A spokesman for the International Olympic Committee called the protest “a deliberate and violent breach of the fundamental principles of the Olympic spirit” and the two athletes were expelled from the Games, despite an initial refusal from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Smith and Carlos received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2008 ESPY Awards, 40 years after the Games.

“We are excited to collaborate with true artists in Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi to bring this powerful story to the world in a new and compelling way,” Legend said in a statement.

“In the current climate we find ourselves in, we are once again being charged to stand up to supremacy, hate, fear, and racism in all forms. We are honored to be a creative partner on this film.”

The documentary is expected to be released in October 2019, the 50th anniversary of Smith’s protest, according to Deadline.

“Tommie Smith is more than an iconic poster or risky act of defiance that inspires people the world over,” Williams said.

“He is a living man, whose incredible journey is worthy of examination. I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with this team of filmmakers, to share his reality and challenge our notions of heroism in the process.”

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