Holocaust group sought reconsideration of Angela Davis honor
An Alabama civil rights organization withdrew a planned human rights award from political activist Angela Davis after a group that educates Alabamians about the Holocaust asked them to reconsider the honor. The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center wrote to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on Jan. 2 expressing “concern and disappointment” about the plan to honor Davis with an award named for minister and civil rights pioneer Fred L. Shuttlesworth. The letter urged the institute to “reconsider your decision.” The Holocaust group cited “recent outspoken support” of a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel, Al.com reported. In a statement posted on its website over the weekend, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said, “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.” The Institute’s statement did not say what specific criteria Davis did not meet. Davis, a Birmingham native, said Monday that the board wouldn’t tell her why it rescinded the award but she later learned her “long-term support of justice for Palestine was at issue.” The civil rights institute also canceled a gala set for February. The award’s withdrawal spawned widespread controversy and prompted three BCRI board members to resign Wednesday. The former board members — chair Mike Oatridge, first vice chair Walter Body and secretary Janice Kelsey — said they regret the circumstances surrounding the award’s selection process and “the dissension this has caused.” “It is hoped this move will enable the City of Birmingham to create a board structure that will best enable the BCRI to continue its critical mission in the future,” the trio said in a statement. “Our intention was to go on record about our concerns in a private letter sent to BCRI leadership,” she said in an email to AL.com, responding to a query about the letter. “We had no further part in the decision made by BCRI to cancel the event, and we were surprised at their decision.” The Holocaust education center’s letter was signed by board president Deborah Layman and the 11 other members of the board’s executive committee, as well as executive director Thomas Bryant. Layman said the committee voted unanimously to send the letter. Davis said she is still coming to Birmingham next month as part of “an alternative event.” A coalition of local activists and citizens said the “grassroots” event will be open to the public and will take place Feb. 16, at a site yet to be determined. “It will be a conversation with Dr. Davis, not a ticketed event,” DeJuana Thompson, founder of Woke Vote, said at a news conference Wednesday. “It will center around her life’s work and the current work she’s doing to address injustice around the world.” Layman said the Holocaust education organization is willing to meet Davis with when she comes to her hometown. ″(We) would be happy to have a conversation with Prof. Davis,” Layman said. “We believe that through open, respectful dialogue, mutual understandings may be reached.” Holocaust refers to the mass murder of European Jews and other groups by the Nazi Germans before and during World War II. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Alabama Councilwoman Sheila Tyson complains Holocaust memorial is racist, ‘dead is dead’
Birmingham City Councilwoman Sheila Tyson is making national headlines for going on a bizarre rant questioning why the Magic City would help fund a Holocaust memorial as it would honor people who are dead. “Dead is dead, right?” she asked, referring to the similarities between a memorial to the Holocaust and the local Shadow Lawn cemetery. “Isn’t it still for dead people,” Tyson continued . “It is for dead people. Aren’t the people they are memorializing deceased?” The proposed Holocaust memorial could go in a garden space on 19th Street at 3rd Avenue North. The city was asking council to move $45,500 from youth services to help clear the lot. The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) raised private funds to build the memorial. But Councilwoman Tyson had more questions. “What’s the difference?” she asked. “I hope we can come together as a city,” said Rebecca Dobrinski, the memorial center’s executive director. The memorial would honor victims of the Holocaust that had ties to Birmingham. “Our Holocaust memorial garden, while it does honor those who perished, it is also telling the stories of those who survived and came to Birmingham and Alabama their home,” Dobrinski explained. “It is meant to teach the community of the consequences of prejudice and hate,” Dobrinski continued. “That is the lesson of the Holocaust. Our goal is to teach the lessons of the Holocaust … so that we do not go down that slippery slope of hate again.” City Council decided to table the issue for another week until the project’s developer could answer questions for Tyson and other reluctant officials. In response to the council meeting, the BHEC posted the following Wednesday on Facebook: The BHEC was surprised and disappointed by the reaction of the Birmingham City Council during the meeting on Tuesday, June 21. The BHEC has been working with representatives from the City for over two years on the Holocaust Garden project. The purpose of the Holocaust Garden is not only to remember those who perished during the Holocaust, to honor those survivors who settled in Birmingham and Alabama after the war, but especially to teach the history and lessons of the Holocaust. Our goal with the Garden is for it to be a tool to educate our community on the consequences of prejudice and discrimination so that future generations do not go down that same slippery slope of hate. Watch the video of the council meeting here:
