Kalyn Chapman James, the first black Miss Alabama, has been placed on administrative leave at her job with a local public television station in Miami for her comments on Facebook about last week's shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers.

The Miss Alabama pageant also distanced itself Monday from James' comments.

WPBT2, without using James' name, issued a statement on its Twitter account Monday afternoon stating that "WPBT2 South Florida PBS does not condone the personal statements made by one of its independent contractors regarding the events in Dallas."

Kalyn Chapman James (2011 file photo)

"It placed the contractor on administrative leave while it actively and carefully looks further into the matter and will determine additional course of actions based on its thorough review of the matter," according to the station's post.

The station's Twitter statement also stated it supports non-violent approaches to complicated issues and policy reforms. "In fact, we go to great lengths to bring viewers in-depth and meaningful programming that examines important issues that directly impact our communities and country such as criminal justice reforms and race relations."

James is the host of Art Loft, a weekly art program on WPBT2 that showcases local artists, exhibitions, performances, and arts groups in South Florida, according to the Art Loft website.

James had not responded to a request by AL.com via email for comment on the television's Twitter statement prior to the publication of this story.

But in a Monday interview, which does not mention the administrative leave, James told television news station WPMI 15 in Mobile that her words have been taken out of context.

James told the TV station that since she posted the video she has gotten mixed responses.

The wife of a Dallas police officer also reached out to her, James said. "She said that she watched my video and she wasn't mad, she understood what I was saying and that she forgave me," James told the TV station.

But she also has gotten threats, James said.

Miss Alabama pageant organizers on Monday also distanced the group from James' Facebook comments in a statement to AL.com.

"Kalyn Chapman James was Miss Alabama 23 years ago in 1993," according to the Miss Alabama statement. "The opinions she expressed are her own, and do not represent the viewpoint of the current Miss Alabama or the Miss Alabama Organization. We have nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for the men and women of law enforcement, and would never condone violence of any kind.'

The controversy came after James, a Mobile native, on Sunday posted a tearful video on her Facebook page in which she states she doesn't want to "feel this way" but she finds it hard to be sad for the Dallas police officers and "can't help but feeling like the shooter was a martyr."

She later clarified her thoughts and expressed her condolences to the families of the slain officers in a statement to AL.com.

"The fact that my opinion was considered newsworthy makes me feel like speaking up was exactly what I should do, because I can voice what so many people are feeling and dealing with and they should know they are not alone," James stated in the email. "I reiterate that I do not condone violence or killing at all. I offer my deepest condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones this week, including the officers in Dallas."

On Tuesday on her Facebook page James wanted people to know some things:

"I'm being threatened, harassed and called awful names. I have a few things to share on this issue that I want everyone to know and then I am done:

1. Micah Johnson is NOT a hero.

2. I do not condone violence against anyone - I am against violence. I would like to see an end to black on black crime, white on white crime, black on white crime, white on black crime, ALL killing needs to stop!

3. I want healing and peace for our nation and it will come when we can process our feelings, address the ones that don't align with our values (like I did) and reach out for help INSTEAD of causing more conflict or taking innocent lives.

If anyone else wants to join together in peace, healing and love just let me know. Because a cry for help and understanding has turned into a hate fest and only we can stop that. #lovematters #spreadlove."

James, in an interview Tuesday with the show Inside Edition said she regretted using the word "martyr" to describe the Dallas shooter. "I do wish that I hadn't used it in my video. I was very emotional," James told the show. "I only used the word in the context of a person who feels like they're dying for something they believe in. What he did was wrong...He is not a hero to me. I do not condone what he did."

James,however, told Inside Edition that she intends to keep her video posted on Facebook. "As long as people know that that video is just an expression of my sadness and anger and hurt, and that it is not a call to incite more violence, then I'm fine with the video being there," she told the show.

Representatives from several Birmingham groups held a press conference Tuesday evening to demand that James be immediately reinstated by the public television station in Miami.

Frank Matthews, president of the Outcast Voters League, said that he and representatives from the Magic City Black Lives Matter, Jefferson County Young Millennial Democrats, and the Birmingham chapter of the Nation Action Network, were sending a letter to the station in Miami. The press conference was held outside the offices of the Alabama Public Television on Southside in Birmingham.

"There is no investigation to be had (by the Miami station). She exercised her right to freedom of speech," Matthews said.

Matthews said he "condoned" the statements James had made in her Facebook video. He said many are keeping their feelings to themselves to be politically correct.

Le'Darius Hilliard, president of the Millennial Democrats, said that others such as Fox TV commentator Rudy Giuliani have made racially charged comments and didn't get suspended.

Carlos Chaverst said "we will not accept her being suspended."

Updated at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday with comment by James on Facebook. Updated at 6 p.m. Tuesday July 12 with comments from press conference.