The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said in a statement that the activist did not meet the criteria for receiving recognition
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI), based in Alabama (United States), announced that it will not grant activist Angela Davis the Shuttlesworth Award.
In September 2018, the board of directors of the BCRI had selected Davis, 74, to receive the award but drastically the organization decided to revoke the award.
The human rights defender was a member of the Black Panther Party, the Coordinating Committee of Nonviolent Students and the United States Communist Party (USA).
In addition, she is recognized for defending the prison reform and for making strong criticisms against Israel in recent years.
The president and executive director of the BCRI, Andrea Taylor, had declared last October that the institute was delighted to grant this recognition to Davis, who was among the personalities that defend the most recognized human rights in the world.
However, in recent days the recognition position took a turn and through a statement the BCRI disclosed that interested individuals and organizations, both inside and outside their local community, began asking them to reconsider the decision of the award.
“After a closer examination of Davis’ statements and the public record, we conclude that, unfortunately, she does not meet all the criteria on which the award is based,” the statement said.
After hearing the news, Davis said that “despite the regrettable decision of the BCRI, I hope to be in Birmingham in February for an alternative event organized by those who believe that the civil rights movement at this time should include a solid discussion of all the injustices that surround us “.
Source URL: Telesur
Translated by JRE
