Muhammad Ali’s Draft Card Up for Auction: A Historic Act of Defiance
Muhammad Ali’s refusal to sign his military draft card during the Vietnam era marked a turning point in the boxing champion’s life, making him an influential voice in the anti-war movement. Now, this important piece of history is ready to be auctioned. In the card, in the space for Ali’s signature in 1967, there is a void, a testament to his act of defiance in the midst of the Vietnam War. This gesture caused a series of events that, although they interrupted his successful boxing career, immortalized him outside the ring as a defender of peace and social justice.The online auction, organized by Christie’s, will take place from October 10 to 28. The card, coming from Ali’s descendants, was publicly exhibited at the Rockefeller Center in New York from Thursday until October 21. The document is estimated to reach a value between 3 and 5 million dollars.“Remembering my father’s message of courage and conviction is more important than ever, and the sale of his recruitment card at Christie’s is a powerful way to share that legacy with the world,” stated Rasheda Ali Walsh, Ali’s daughter, in a statement issued by the auction house.
Rasheda Ali Walsh
Muhammad Ali, three-time world heavyweight champion, died in 2016 at the age of 74, after battling Parkinson’s disease for decades. About 100,000 people chanted “Ali! Ali!” in the streets of his hometown, Louisville, Kentucky, as the coffin was carried to the local cemetery. His memorial service was attended by celebrities, athletes, and politicians. The recruitment card, with typed parts, evokes a time when Ali was not universally acclaimed, but a controversial figure, revered by millions worldwide and criticized by many. By refusing to be drafted into the United States Army, Ali was convicted of evading military service, stripped of his boxing title, and suspended from practicing the sport. Ali appealed the conviction, claiming he was a Muslim minister. He famously proclaimed: “I ain’t got no quarrel with the Viet Cong.” During his exile, Ali gave speeches at universities and briefly participated in a Broadway musical. Three years later, he was allowed to return to boxing. In 1971, still facing a possible prison sentence, Ali faced Joe Frazier, his great rival, in what became known as “the Fight of the Century.” A few months later, the United States Supreme Court overturned his conviction with an 8-0 vote. The recruitment card was issued on the day the Louisville recruitment board ordered Ali to report for induction, according to a Christie’s press release. The card was signed by the chairman of the local board, but not by Ali. In the card, Ali was identified by his birth name, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., although his middle name was misspelled as “Marsellus”. After his conversion to Islam, he was given a name that reflected his faith, according to the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. At the top of the recruitment card it reads: “(AKA) Muhammad Ali”. The Ali Center presents exhibitions that pay tribute to Ali’s boxing skills. However, its main mission is to preserve his humanitarian legacy and promote his six core principles: spirituality, generosity, conviction, confidence, respect, and dedication. Now, an artifact reflecting how Ali personified some of those principles will be available at auction.“This is a singular object associated with an important historical event that resonates in our shared popular culture,” said Peter Klarnet, a Christie’s specialist.
Peter Klarnet
“This is the first time collectors will be able to acquire a vital and intimate document related to one of the most important figures of the last century,” Klarnet said.
Peter Klarnet
