Damien Hooper: The Sanctioning of an Anti-Racist Olympic Rebel
Submitted on August 5, 2012
By Dave Zirin - August 05, 2012
Today, it’s still the third rail of Australian politics to claim pride and solidarity with the nation’s indigenous people. Damien Hooper is finding this out the hard way. Hooper is an Olympic boxer making major waves both in and out of the ring. The light heavyweight is...a threat to win gold...He’s also a threat to be sent home by the Australian Olympic Committee. Before fighting...the 20-year-old’s ring attire included a black T-shirt emblazoned with the Aboriginal Flag. Hooper...knew that he was breaking the Olympics “no politics” rule, which states that you can represent only your country or approved corporate sponsors.
