SJSU Recognizes the Legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos with City and Student Panels

Members of the San José City Council, as well as California Assemblymember Ash Kalra, joined SJSU students and alumni for two panels recognizing the legacy of Olympians and civil rights advocates Tommie Smith, ’69 Social Science, ’05 Honorary Doctorate, and John Carlos, ’05 Honorary Doctorate. Photo: Brian Anderson, ’24 MFA Digital Media Art.

Fifty-seven years ago this week, Olympic medalists Tommie Smith, ’69 Social Science, ’05 Honorary Doctorate, and John Carlos, ’05 Honorary Doctorate, raised their gloved hands in an iconic civil rights salute on the Olympic podium in Mexico City —  a statement of solidarity inspired by their work with the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR), a movement established at SJSU in 1967 by Harry Edwards, ’64 Social Science, ’16 Honorary Doctorate, and Ken Noel, ’66 BA, ’68 MA Social Science, ’24 Honorary Doctorate. The moment, memorialized by the legendary statue on SJSU’s Tower Lawn, sparked generations of dialogue, civic action and social change. 

To help recognize their legacy, SJSU honors Smith and Carlos every October as part of Legacy Month. On October 13, also known as Smith Carlos Day, the university hosted local city leaders, students, faculty and staff for a series of panels at the Student Union Theater. 

SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson kicked off the event Monday with a brief overview of Speed City, the identity pinned to the university’s powerhouse track and field program helmed by Coach Bud Winter from the 1940s-1960s. Both Smith and Carlos were members of Winter’s celebrated team, many of whom became Olympians.

SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson at Smith Carlos Day. Photo: Brian Anderson, ’24 MFA Digital Media Art.

The president was followed by a panel of San José City Councilmembers entitled “From Speed City to City Hall: Translating Advocacy into Public Service.” Three of the four councilmembers onstage have degrees from San José State — Pamela Campos, ’17 Child and Adolescent Development/Spanish; Domingo Candelas, ’11 Political Science, ’17 MPA; and George Casey, ’13 MUP. They were joined by the recently elected Councilmember Anthony Tordillos. Tianna Madison, a double Olympic champion in track and field and San José Planning Commission Vice Chair Chuck Cantrell served as moderators.

“The legacy of courage that I learned as a Spartan walking past [the statue of] Tommie Smith and John Carlos every day going to class is that we have to be unapologetic in our fight for human rights and equality,” said Campos, who started her career as a preschool teacher and has served as a councilmember since 2024. “If we think about the history of this country, so many people had to fight for rights that they have today.”

The panel shared personal reflections on Speed City’s influence, with alumni reiterating how their experiences at SJSU shaped their careers in public service. They also shared advice for students interested in public service who want to get involved in the community.

The panel transitioned smoothly into a student panel, “Carrying the Torch: Student Advocacy in the Spirit of Speed City,” moderated by Madison and Assemblymember Ash Kalra and featuring Tara Al-Rehani, ’26 Political Science, president of the Cal State Student Association; SJSU sprinter Lex Leffall, ’28 Geography; and SJSU basketball player Maya Anderson, ’27 Business. Together they discussed current student advocacy initiatives on campus, lessons learned from Speed City pioneers, challenges and opportunities for student leaders today and practical strategies for effective advocacy. 

Smith Carlos Day attendees raise their fists in homage to the famous Olympians. Photo: Brian Anderson, ’24 MFA Digital Media Art.

For Tara Al-Rehani, who is not a student-athlete, service comes in many forms. 

“To me, Speed City represents collective action,” she said. “There’s collective trauma in all of our communities … we cannot stand up for one group without standing up for another. I think it’s really important to recognize that when you protest or when you commit yourself to standing up against injustice, you are committing to standing up to all injustices happening at all times, everywhere, in our society and culture.”