On this date, June 20, in 1967, Muhammad Ali is convicted in Houston, Texas, in federal courts for violating Selective Service Act by refusing induction into the armed services. He was fined $10,000 and sentenced to five years in prison. Ali, an opponent of the Vietnam War, had refused to report for service on grounds that he was a Muslim minister.
Houston, June 20—Cassius Clay, the deposed heavyweight champion, was convicted by a jury tonight of violating the United States Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted.Federal District Judge Joe E. Ingraham sentenced Clay to five years in prison and fined him $10,000. This was the maximum penalty for the offense, which is a felony.The judge’s sentence was pronounced immediately at Clay’s request."I’d appreciate it," the 25-year-old boxer said, "if the court will do it now, give me my sentence now, instead of waiting and stalling for time."His lawyers said he “wants to be able to sleep tonight” without worrying what the sentence would be. [Continue reading New York Times article.]
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