Protest ... the mural in Leamington Lane, Newtown. Photo: Peter Rae

Last night the City of Sydney endorsed a motion by Labor councillor Meredith Burgmann to have the mural, known as ''Three Proud People'', placed on the local heritage register. Cr Burgmann said she hoped the mural, and the terraces, could be saved. ''It's certainly an iconic part of Newtown,'' she said.

RailCorp confirmed in June it was considering resuming homes around Leamington Avenue and Pine Street, where the mural is located, to build a city ''relief line'' from Eveleigh to Wynyard. A Transport NSW spokesman said yesterday no decisions about properties had been made and that ''every effort will be made to maximise the use of government-owned land and minimise any impact on private property''.

Norman, who won the silver medal in the 200-metre final at the Mexico City games, knew his fellow medallists, Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos, planned to raise their fists in protest and wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in solidarity.

For his act, Norman was reprimanded and was not selected for the Australian team at the 1972 Olympics.

Thirty-eight years after the trio made history, Carlos and Smith were pallbearers at Norman's funeral in Melbourne. Carlos told the Herald in 2006 Norman had shown no fear on the day: ''He said, 'I'll stand with you.'''

Silvio Offria, who allowed an artist he knew only as Donald to paint the mural on his house, said Norman had come to Newtown to see the mural before he died in 2006. ''He came and had his photo taken, he was very happy,'' he said.

Mr Offria said the thought of the properties being demolished made him ''sick''.

Even if successful, the heritage listing - which will need to be approved by the planning minister - would not guarantee the house could be saved.

Source: www.smh.com.au/nsw/last-stand-for-newtowns-three-proud-people-20100726-10smr.html