Birmingham, January 9 (RHC)-- In U.S. state of Alabama, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is coming under fire after rescinding a human rights award for civil rights activist and author Angela Davis.  They have also canceled the event associated with the prestigious award. 

The institute announced in September that Angela Davis, a Birmingham native, would receive the Fred L. Shuttlesworth award, but they have now released a statement saying they were withdrawing the award after “supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community, began to make requests that we reconsider our decision.” 

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said he was “dismayed” by the institute’s decision, which he said came after “protests from our local Jewish community and some of its allies.” Angela Davis has been a longtime outspoken defender of Palestinian rights and is critical of Israeli government policy.