[Fdu] NWSA Statement in Support of Angela Davis

[Cynthia Wright]

*Statement in Support of Angela Davis*

January 14, 2019

The Executive Committee of the National Women’s Studies Association is 
appalled and stunned by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s recent 
decision to rescind the Fred Shuttlesworth Civil Rights Award from 
long-time activist Angela Davis. For over half a century Professor Davis 
has been a crucial voice for civil and human rights struggles worldwide.

The BCRI’s decision speaks to the particular risk Black internationalist 
justice activists face when they take principled but controversial 
political positions, especially related to Palestine. As Professor Davis 
says in her statement, “The rescinding of this invitation and the 
cancellation of the event where I was scheduled to speak was thus not 
primarily an attack against me but rather against the very spirit of the 
indivisibility of justice.” We completely agree.

In light of this unfortunate decision, we reiterate our shared 
conviction that criticism of Israel does not equate to anti-Semitism. 
Criticism of Israel’s policies crosses racial, ethnic, religious, and 
gender boundaries. Principled people around the world, including many 
Jewish scholars, activists, and organizations – Howard Zinn, Melanie 
Kaye Kantrowitz, Elly Bulkin, Herbert Marcuse, Jewish Voice for Peace, 
IfNotNow, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Jews for Justice for 
Palestinians, and many others – have also voiced opposition to the 
inhumane and unjust treatment of Palestinians. Like Professor Davis, we 
affirm our commitment to Palestinian human rights while continuing to 
speak out and work against the forces of anti-Semitism.

Professor Davis’ opposition to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine 
and routine violation of human rights abuses is part of her 
long-standing transnational, intersectional feminist activism and 
commitment to stand firm against injustices across the globe. Her 
assertion that “human rights are indivisible” suggests that we cannot 
compartmentalize our social justice work. She is a world citizen which 
means she sees connections between mass incarceration in the U.S. and 
Israel’s surveillance, harassment, and detainment of people in Gaza; 
connections between anti-Semitism and racism; and between violence 
against women in the U.S. and across the globe.

We are witnessing an all-too-familiar example of political silencing 
reminiscent of McCarthyism, where a woman who has been fighting for 
peace and justice for most of her life can be stripped of an award and 
have her commitment to human rights questioned because a vocal minority 
disagrees with her. The decision to rescind the award disregards her 
decades of principled scholarship, teaching, and activism. It is a 
dangerous example of political policing. Professor Davis’ nuanced and 
sophisticated scholarship helps us move beyond monolithic political 
perspectives – and makes clear that it is possible to criticize the 
policies of the state of Israel and simultaneously support Jewish and 
Palestinian people.

As feminist scholars we see this refusal to honor Professor Davis as not 
only an insult to her and to all that she stands for, but an affront to 
all people who support freedom of speech and social justice.  We urge 
the BCRI to act swiftly to present Professor Davis with the honor she 
deserves.

SIGNED by the EC with affiliations*

Premilla Nadasen, President, Barnard College
Barbara Ransby, Past President, University of Illinois at Chicago
Diane Harriford, Vice President, Vassar College
Patti Duncan, Secretary, Oregon State University
Karma Chávez, Treasurer, The University of Texas at Austin

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