MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The National Civil Rights Museum has chosen the Dalai Lama as the recipient of the International Freedom Award.

The Dalai Lama is the exiled spiritual leader of 6 million Tibetans. In 2007, he was appointed the Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory University.

Museum Board Chairman Benjamin L. Hooks called him a living example of Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi's teachings of nonviolent protest.

The museum's National Freedom Award will go to Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of slain civil rights champion Medgar Evers. The Legacy Freedom Award winner is former NBA standout Julius Erving. Those awards will be presented Oct. 27.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be announced later.