January 2, 2018

Ms. Andrea Taylor, President & CEO

Mr. Mike Oatridge, Chair, Board of Directors
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 16th Street North
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Birmingham, AL 35203
Deborah Layman, President
Rusty Adams
Karen Allen Dear Ms. Taylor and Mr. Oatridge,
Judy Borisky Metzger
Staci Brooks Brown
Andy Campbell Our two organizations, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) and the
Robin DeMonia
Cathy Friedman
Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC), have kindred missions which
Fran Godchaux have afforded us many fruitful opportunities for collaboration and partnership
Tandy Graves over the years. Both institutions tell stories from the past to illustrate the
Denise Lewis consequences of hatred and intolerance. We use these lessons to educate with the
Dominique Linchet
hope of diminishing racism, antisemitism, and intolerance of all kinds. It is in the
Emmy McGowin
Anna Minkinow spirit of our common mission that we share our concern and disappointment
Ann Mollengarden regarding the BCRI’s decision to honor Angela Davis with the prestigious Fred L.
Debra Nelson Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award.
Samuetta Nesbitt
J. Wray Pearce
Lynn Raviv
Specifically, Ms. Davis’s recent outspoken support of the Boycott, Divestment, and
Joel Rotenstreich Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel is very troubling as it targets the Jewish
Joyce Shevin people exclusively. We do not suggest that Israel should be immune from criticism,
Abe Schuster but BDS ignores gross human rights transgressions by other countries around the
Teresa Thorne
world and focuses solely on Israel, the world’s only Jewish state. The Rev. Martin
Chelsea Tucker
Luther King Jr. said, “When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews; you are
FOUNDING PRESIDENT talking antisemitism.”
Phyllis G. Weinstein
The BHEC actively teaches students to speak out when they see something that is
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
wrong; antisemitism is wrong. In good conscience and in the spirit of friendship,
Thomas Bryant
we feel compelled to speak out. In selecting Ms. Davis to receive the Shuttlesworth
Award, the BCRI is granting a significant and coveted honor to a person who does
not embody the principles advanced by the Rev. Dr. Shuttlesworth.

We respectfully encourage you to share our concerns with your board and
reconsider your decision.

Sincerely,

Deborah Layman Thomas Bryant

Board President Executive Director

Executive Committee

Karen Allen Andy Campbell

Cathy Friedman Fran Godchaux
Deborah Layman Denise Lewis
Dominique Linchet Ann Mollengarden
J. Wray Pearce Joel Rotenstreich
Joyce Shevin Phyllis Weinstein