Civil rights activist Angela Davis is returning an award from the City of Atlanta in protest of the city’s plans to build the $90-million public safety training center in DeKalb County.
Davis traveled to Atlanta in March to give the keynote address at the 20th Annual Walter Rodney Symposium. While there, she was honored with an official proclamation from the Atlanta City Council which she now regrets accepting.
“I did not consider the implications of my acceptance of the award at the time, given the fact that the City Council voted in favor of the construction of a massive militarized police training facility in the South River Forest,” Davis said in a statement.
Davis said she felt “compelled” to return the honor in solidarity with activists fighting construction of the facility.
“I want to salute all those who are involved in the `stop cop city movement,’” Davis said in a video posted this week. “I want to urge people everywhere to find ways to generate support for them.”
The civil rights activists said that she stands alongside all the different movements protesting against the facility — people working to protect the forest, seeking bail for protestors charged with domestic terrorism and demanding more answers in the fatal police shooting of Manuel Teran.
Davis’ decision underscores the widespread outcry sparked by Atlanta’s plans to construct the 85-acre public safety training facility that will serve both police and firefighters.
Protests against the facility emerged across the nation after 26-year-old environmental activist known as “Tortugita” was fatally shot by Georgia State Police during a police sweep of the area in January.
On Monday, the Walter Rodney Foundation released a lengthy statement supporting Davis’ decision.
“Atlanta is considered the historical epicenter for civil rights and social justice — a Black mecca — a large Black populace with Black leadership,” Asha T. Rodney, the vice-chair of the foundation, said in a release. “However, the city’s leadership is acting in defiance of the wishes of Black residents by voting for ‘Cop City.’”
Councilman Jason Dozier, who presented the award to Davis, responded on Monday that he was asked by the foundation to present the award on behalf of the city because the event was being held within his district.
“While I appreciate the passion and conviction of those who advocate, agitate, and organize in the spirit of Dr. Walter Rodney,” he said, “All efforts to have the City of Atlanta honor Dr. Davis and Dr. Rodney were done in collaboration with — and at the behest of — members of the WRF organizing team.”
Dozier said the he will “continue to advocate for greater transparency and work to steer the city in a better direction around protecting our tree canopy.”
About the Author
