>> I’LL OPEN BY SAYING HOW HAPPY
I AM TO BE HERE.
CHIP: AND PEOPLE CLEARLY ARE
HAPPY TO SEE DR. ANGELA DAVIS.
HUNDREDS LINED THE SIDEWALK IN
FRONT OF BOUTWELL AUDITORIUM
SATURDAY NIGHT.
THE WELL-KNOWN ACTIVIST IS BACK
IN HER HOMETOWN FOR THE FIRST
SINCE THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIL
RIGHTS INSTITUTE DENIED HER THE
PRESTIGIOUS FRED L.
SHUTTLESWORTH AWARD.
>> I HEARD FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
CHIP: THE BCRI FIRST SAID DAVIS
DIDN’T MEET THE NECESSARY
QUALIFICATIONS, BUT LATER HAD A
CHANGE OF HEART AND SAID DAVIS
IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD.
>> I’M VERY SORRY THAT EVENTS
UNFOLDED IN THE WAY THAT THEY
DID BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO DO
ANYTHING TO DAMAGE THE
REPUTATION OF THE BIRMINGHAM
CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, WHICH IS
SUCH AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION
FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
CHIP: BUT SHE SAYS THERE’S A
FLIP SIDE TO THE CONTROVERSY
STEMMING FROM WHETHER OR NOT SHE
SHOULD RECEIVE THE AWARD.
>> IT HAS PROVIDED AN OCCASION
FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO
COME TOGETHER AND THINK VERY
DEEPLY ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHAT IT
MEANS TO STANDUP FOR HUM
RIGHTS IN THE 21‘ST CENTURY.
CHIP: DAVIS TOOK PART IN AN
EVENT HOSTED BY THE BIRMINGHAM
COMMITTEE FOR TRUTH AND
RECONCILIATION ON SATURDAY
NIGHT.
SHE SAYS SHE’S NOT SURE WHAT’S
SHE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BCRI’S
INVITATION TO ACCEPT THE FRED L.
SHUTTLESWORTH AWAR
DR. DAVIS: I WILL TAKE MY LEAD
FROM THE COMMUNITY IN
BIRMINGHAM.
CHIP: THE CROWD WAS SO BIG
PEOPLE WERE STILL COMING IN THE
FRONT ENTRANCE 90 MINUTES AFTER
THE DOOR
