On this day in 1967, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army, citing religious reasons and opposition to the Vietnam War. His stand cost him greatly, stripping him of his boxing titles and facing a ban from the sport. Ali’s conviction in the face of immense pressure made him a symbol of the anti-war movement and a champion of civil rights, remembered not only for his prowess in the ring but also for his principles outside of it.
