Muhammad Ali immortalized his legacy outside the ring by refusing to be eligible to participate in the draft. During the Vietnam War, young Americans were being drafted into the military to satisfy the demand for a fighting force. It was during this time that draft evasion and resistance was at an all time high.
As a Muslim, Ali objected against killing others. He used this as his reasoning to forgo military service. He also famously questioned why he would put his life on the line for a country that discriminated against him.
In 1976, Ali was scheduled to appear for an induction into the U.S. military. He symbolically refused to step forward to accept his induction, so he was arrested and convicted. In addition, his boxing license and titles were stripped away from him. Ali was already a controversial figure for converting to Islam, but his refusal to serve made him a hated figure by many.
While the case was being appealed, Ali was allowed to stay out of prison. As a result, he ended up being a prominent speaker in refusing to enlist from the draft. Ali was able to finally get his boxing license back and knocked out Jerry Quarry in his comeback to the ring. The Supreme Court also overturned his conviction.
In the end, this whole process took a toll on Ali. His prime boxing years were taken away from him, but he was able to stand up for his own beliefs.
Sites:
https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/06/muhammad-ali-vietnam/485717/
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/muhammad-ali-refuses-army-induction
http://depts.washington.edu/antiwar/vietnam_draft.shtml
How much of the treatment of Ali do you think stemmed from his celebrity status? Would he have had the opportunity to advocate as effectively had he been the average draft refuser?
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