CLEVELAND – The city of Cleveland is known for its combination of social justice advocacy and sport. On Oct. 11, 2023, the Cleveland Cavaliers with the CL3 Alliance (Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians), American Cancer Society, NBA Social Justice Coalition and Marcus Graham Project unveiled the 1967 Cleveland Summit sculpture and announced the continuation of the 1967 Cleveland Summit. The event was held at the American Cancer Society Cleveland Branch, which was previously known as the Industrial Negro Building and the original location of the 1967 Cleveland Summit.
The sculpture is a direct representation of the photo taken by Robert Abbott of the 1967 Cleveland Summit, the gathering of 12 African American athletes and one elected official in support of Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War and advance the national movement for civil rights in America. The photo includes Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Lorenzo Ashley, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten.
At the unveiling, Kevin Clayton, Cavs Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Equity, explained how the city of Cleveland has been “the first” for the social justice and sports movement in many ways, with teams, athletes and executives breaking the color barrier in different ways across the major sports leagues.
“We don't have to make up history in Cleveland,” Kevin Clayton, Senior Vice President of Social Impact and Equity emphasized. “We are history.”
The newly designed sculpture by the Marcus Graham Project is a 72” x 108” mural of the famous photo taken by Abbott and a 88” x 44” x 44” replica press conference table of the 1967 Cleveland Summit. The table has 12 different microphones to represent the 12 athletes amplifying their voice and platform for social justice. The sculpture is an extension of the marker unveiling that took place at the American Cancer Society in June of 2022 to celebrate the 55thanniversary of the original Cleveland Summit.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Kevin Clayton, followed by a video tribute and remarks by John Wooten, the NBA Social Justice Coalition, Cavs Head Coach JB Bickerstaff and Cavs shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. Wooten walked the audience through the day of the summit and the impact that it had on sports and the social justice movement at that time. Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell followed by honoring Mr. Wooten and gave “his why” on the importance of the NBA Social Justice Coalition and athletes using their platform for change.
“I will forever cherish how special this moment is to be in the very room where this historical photo was taken,” said Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell. “The NBA has done a great job allowing us to use our platform on all occasions including this one. This work is extremely important to me because I always want to use my platform to be a voice for those who look like me and my community.”
The program concluded with Mitchell and Cleveland Browns EVP of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry unveiling the new sculpture with a curtain drop and the CL3 Alliance announcing the annual Summit to launch next June, aiming to enhance strategy around advancing social justice through sport. The mission of the CL3 Alliance is to unify Cleveland’s major professional sports teams to create lasting transformational social change in communities across Northeast Ohio.
