RACE IMBODEN

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.

The simple act of taking a knee felt like something more monumental when it happened on Olympic soccer pitches in Japan on the opening night of action.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said Tuesday that it will allow athletes to kneel during the national anthem and raise their fists at Olympic trials, as the organization continues to review the decades-long policy of banning protests at the Games ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. In a nine-page document released Tuesday, the committee outlined racial and social demonstrations that would "not be punished or undermined" by the USOPC or impact an athlete's participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Trials events. The International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee have jurisdiction over the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and could enforce the controversial Rule 50. Under the rule, participating team members and athletes are not allowed to partake in any demonstration during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But each country's governing athletic organizations, such as the USOPC, are tasked with punishing athletes for a violation.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said Tuesday that it will allow athletes to raise their fists and kneel during the national anthem at Olympic trials, as the organization continues to review the decadeslong policy of banning protests at the Games ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. In a nine-page document released Tuesday, the committee outlined racial and social demonstrations that would "not be punished or undermined" by the USOPC or impact an athlete's participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Trials events. The International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee have jurisdiction over the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and could enforce the controversial Rule 50. Under the rule, participating team members and athletes are not allowed to partake in any demonstration during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But each country's governing athletic organizations, such as the USOPC, are tasked with punishing athletes for a violation.

The decision is a response to a set of recommendations from a USOPC athlete group that seeks changes to the much-maligned Rule 50 of the IOC Olympic Charter, which prohibits inside-the-lines protests at the games. IOC athletes chair Kirsty Coventry said many of those who have provided feedback to her commission "have also recognized the practical question of how to choose between the opinions of hundreds of issues from different angles across the world." The USOPC established a handful of working groups led by athletes who tackled different aspects of social injustice in the Olympic movement and society in general. The USOPC says it won't discipline athletes for “respectful” and “peaceful” demonstrations, and Hirshland said, “I can't imagine that kneeling or raising a fist would be considered" inappropriate. The IOC has sent a survey to athletes across the globe for their opinions on Rule 50 and other issues.

Gold medalist Race Imboden of United States takes a knee during the National Anthem Ceremony in the podium of Fencing Men's Foil Team Gold Medal Match Match on Day 14 of Lima 2019 Pan American Games at Fencing Pavilion of Lima Convention(CNN) - American gold medalist fencer Race Imboden knelt as the national anthem played Friday at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, to protest racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants and President Donald Trump. "This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze. On Friday, he helped the US win gold in the men's foil team event, and then took a knee on the podium as the Star Spangled Banner played. Imboden was not the only American to protest during the anthem at the Pan American Games. Gwen Berry took gold in the women's hammer throw competition on Saturday, and she raised her fist in the air at the end of the national anthem in protest.