Jan 5, 2019

Angela David Dis-invited, will not receive award in Birmingham

From Richard Friedman's* Facebook page:





BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE
WILL NOT HONOR ANGELA DAVIS AFTER ALL.


The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) has reconsidered its decision to honor longtime political activist Angela Davis with its Fred Shuttlesworth Award.
The Birmingham Jewish Federation thanks the BCRI board for its thoughtful and courageous reconsideration. BCRI is a great institution that does much to benefit our entire community. BCRI deserves continued and widespread support.
Below is the statement BCRI released this afternoon:
In September of 2018, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s (BCRI) Board of Directors selected Angela Davis to receive the prestigious Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award at its annual gala in February 2019. In late December, supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community, began to make requests that we reconsider our decision.
Upon closer examination of Ms. Davis’ statements and public record, we concluded that she unfortunately does not meet all of the criteria on which the award is based. Therefore, on January 4, BCRI’s Board voted to rescind its invitation to Ms. Davis to honor her with the Shuttlesworth Award. While we recognize Ms. Davis’ stature as a scholar and prominent figure in civil rights history, we believe this decision is consistent with the ideals of the award’s namesake, Rev. Shuttlesworth.
We regret that this change is necessary, and apologize to our supporters, the community and Ms. Davis for the confusion we have caused. We will move forward with a keen focus on our mission: to enlighten each generation about civil and human rights by exploring our common past and working together in the present to build a better future.
The associated gala event, scheduled for February 16th at Haven has been cancelled. Ticket purchasers will received a full refund.

*Richard Friedman:
Executive Director at Birmingham Jewish Federation
The problem is Davis' positions and advocacy involving Palestinians and Israel:
Something not included in the Institute's publicity for the event is that Davis has also been an outspoken voice in the boycott-Israel movement, and advocates extensively on college campuses for the isolation of the Jewish state, saying Israel engages in ethnic cleansing and is connected to police violence against African-Americans in the United States.
              (From a posting by Larry Brook).

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