The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama has rescinded its decision to honor political activist and scholar Angela Davis following unspecified complaints.

Davis is a Birmingham native who has spent decades fighting for civil rights. She was an active member of the Black Panther Party, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Communist Party USA.

The institute announced Saturday that an examination of Davis’ statements and public record concluded that she did not “meet all of the criteria” for the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award.

The statement did not indicate what criteria it found Davis did not meet or the origin of the complaints.

But while expressing “dismay” at the decision, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin cited protests from the “local Jewish community and some of its allies.”

Davis has criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

Sign-up now for our daily newsletter and never miss another article from Yellowhammer News.