CLEVELAND — As part of a week-long series of community outreach events in Cleveland, leaders from both the NBA and Northeast Ohio united Friday to pay tribute to a landmark gathering in the city's history.
Mayor Justin M. Bibb and Cavaliers president Koby Altman gathered to place a historical marker at the American Cancer Society facility on Euclid Avenue, the former site of the Negro Industrial Building. It was at that location in 1967 that more than a dozen athletes and civic leaders gathered for what became known as the "Cleveland Summit."
National Basketball Social Justice Coalition James Cadogan read a statement celebrating the occasion honoring the historic summit.
"We pay tribute to the Black athlete, activists and public servants present in 1967 by dedicating a historical marker to the original site of the summit," said the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition in a statement.
City Councilman Kevin Conwell presented the resolution from city council dedicating a new marker to the historical site. The marker was designed by designers at the Marcus Graham Project.
You can watch the ceremonies again below:
The focus of the summit was boxing legend Muhammed Ali, who at the time was banned from the sport for refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War. Those in attendance included Browns great Jim Brown, NBA icon Bill Russell, and soon-to-be Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes, and all engaged Ali on his decision to stay out of the war as well as his views on the state of politics and religion in America.
Former Browns cornerback Walter Beach, one of the original summit participants, adressed the crowd as well as Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin, and Carl Stokes' grand-niece Alex.