Why Was Muhammad Ali Considered A Rebel

A rebel is a person who refuses allegiance to, resist, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of his or her country. Cassius Clay or better known as Muhammad Ali could be considered of one of America’s greatest rebels while he was fighting for his cause. Cassius Clay fought against the United States government because they tried to force him to enlist into the American Army, but Clay did not feel like he had to go fight in a war because it was against his religious beliefs. The feelings that he had turned into a long standing court case against the United States to fight for the freedom of not having to fight in the Vietnam War.

Muhammad Ali was a boxer during the late 1900’s and he was also considered a philanthropist. Ali was born

This rebellious act brought a lot of unwanted attention to the great boxer and he became a symbol of rebellion to a large portion of the United States population. The famed boxer is of the Islam religion and felt that he did not have to fight in a war that was not for his religion. Muhammad Ali was called to a court hearing in Houston where he did not step to the front of the court room when his name was called and he was eventually convicted and sentenced 5 years in jail and a $10,000 dollar fine. During that court case Muhammad Ali said. “I’d like to say I would appreciate it if the court would sentence me now instead of waiting.” This court case is showing that Clay doesn’t care if they take everything away from him that he still is not going to fight in a war the he does not believe in. Five years after the court case in Houston Muhammad Ali was going to be trialed at the Supreme Court against the United States. The court case was argued on April 19th, 1971 and the court decided the ruling on June 28th, 1971. During the court case this quote was said, “The petitioner was convicted for willful refusal to submit to induction into the armed forces.” This is a very important quote to the court case because it says the direct reason that Muhammad Ali is being convicted and is in the trial. The court is saying that Muhammad Ali is being

Ali said, “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end.” This quote is very important because it shows why Muhammad Ali doesn’t want to fight in the war because he feels as if he would be helping the whites become more dominant. This quote could have been one of the main reasons that Muhammad Ali was able to protest against the government so well because he brought to light a good reason as to why the African Americans shouldn’t be fighting. Muhammad Ali was stripped of his World Heavyweight championship and suspended from boxing for three years because of his conviction. In a interview about his conviction in Houston Muhammad Ali said, “I felt happy because I knew I wasn't going and people didn't think I had the nerve or they don't have the nerve to buck the draft board or the government.” In this quote Muhammad is showing that he didn’t care about his boxing career and that he is defending his faith and his people are what are the