Only one Englishman who had a great Olympic career ever stood for the IOC presidency before Sebastian Coe.

Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Gwen Berry are among the more than 150 educators, activists and athletes who signed a letter Thursday urging the IOC not to punish participants who demonstrate at the Tokyo Games.

Athletes who make political or social justice protests at the Tokyo Olympics have been promised legal support by a global union and an activist group in Germany.

(AP Photo/File)For generations, the IOC knew exactly where to look for key support of its ban against protests at the Olympics. “That becomes a difficult situation,” said Harry Edwards, the activist who helped brainstorm the gestures by Smith and Carlos 52 years ago. American athletes have been reeling from a summer of unrest over police violence against Black people in the United States. The Olympics are a behemoth that counts America as only one of 206 countries who are members. “And what today reflects is that this generation of athletes is more than willing to do their part.”

DENVER John Carlos wants to abolish the rule that bans protests at the Olympics. The renowned Olympic protester has written a letter with an influential group of American athletes, calling on the IOC to put in place a new policy done in collaboration with athletes from across the globe. Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists on the medals stand at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics to protest racial inequality in the United States. Athletes are working together as a collective because sport leaders have become too complacent." USOPC leaders have said they are trying to expand the conversation about racial injustice, and are open to pressing for changes in Rule 50 the IOC rule that bars protests on the medals stand and other inside-the-line venues at the games.