Civil Rights Institute Reverses Decision on Angela Davis Award Again
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will award Birmingham native Angela Davis its 2018 Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award — again. Friday’s reversal is the latest development in a public controversy that has embroiled the institute for the last month.
BCRI officials announced in October Davis would receive the annual award. But on January 3rd, the board voted at a special meeting to rescind the award saying Davis did not “meet all of the criteria on which the award is based.” The statement did not specify any criteria.
Davis grew up in Birmingham during the civil rights era. The longtime civil rights activist is former a member of the Black Panther and Communist parties. She’s a retired professor of the University of California, Santa Cruz. Davis is also a vocal critic of the Israeli government’s policies toward Palestinians and supports the movement to boycott Israel.
That support appears to have motivated the decision to rescind the award. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, an ex-officio member of the BCRI board, said in a statement at the time the decision was made “after protests from some members of the community, Jewish and otherwise.” Days before the award was rescinded, the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center’s board wrote the BCRI saying they were concerned and disappointed with the decision to honor Davis.
The board’s move prompted a wave of criticism. Woodfin said he was “dismayed.” Activists called for board members to resign. Three board member did resign and the board issued an apology a few days later. Davis said she would still come to Birmingham in February, despite the gala honoring her having been cancelled, for a series of alternative events.
Friday’s statement from the BCRI board says the board voted January 14th, the day it issued the apology, to “reaffirm Dr. Davis as the recipient.” It says the board immediately invited Davis to reaccept the award. The statement says the vote was part of learning from its mistakes and keeping in line with the organization’s mission.
Interim board chair Rev. Thomas Wilder says the reversal is a matter of conscience.
“Public repentance can be very, very difficult and very brutal,” Wilder says. “But if you really want to stand by what you think is right, then you do that and you deal with whatever consequences come.”
Wilder says the handling of the award was not meant to embarrass Davis and he hopes she does accept it. But he says he accepts whatever decision she makes.
“She has been publicly humiliated in her own hometown and sometimes that takes a little time to work through,” Wilder says.
Calls to the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and Angela Davis were not immediately returned.
Updated Friday at 1:45 p.m. to add quotes from Wilder.
Photo by Sangre-La.com
Don Lemon and Georgia Fort vow to continue reporting following arrests tied to anti-ICE protest
The two independent journalists face federal charges related to the interruption of a church service in Minnesota earlier this month. Lemon and Fort say they were there to cover a protest.
‘Sanford and Son’ co-star Demond Wilson dies at 79
The actor was best known for playing Lamont Sanford, opposite Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford in the hit 1970s sitcom. Wilson died Friday from complications related to cancer, his publicist said.
Milan protesters call for U.S. ICE agents to leave Italy as Winter Games approach
An ICE unit from the US Department of Homeland Security is playing a role providing security at the Winter Games. At past Olympics, their involvement would have been unremarkable. But after the violence in Minneapolis, many Italians protesting in Milan say ICE agents are no longer welcome.
Judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling on social media, calling it "another HUGE" legal win for the Justice Department.
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeats No. 1 Aryana Sabalenka to win Australian Open
Saturday's win marks the second Grand Slam title for Rybakina, who took Wimbledon in 2022.
The U.S. will likely lose its measles elimination status. Here’s what that means
The South Carolina measles outbreak is now bigger than last year's Texas outbreak and is happening as the U.S. is poised to lose its measles elimination status.
