Honoring, recognizing and commending Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller and Mr. Tariq Karim El-Shabazz, Esquire for their extraordinary performance in Jeff Stetson's production The Meeting.

WHEREAS,

The Meeting

is based on a hypothetical meeting between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, two leaders of the Civil Rights Era

; and

WHEREAS,

The Meeting

portrays a spirited debate between the two Civil Rights Era giants about their differing approaches to improving the lives of black men and women in a predominantly white society; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Stetson wrote

The Meeting

as an educational tool to engage students with the Civil Rights Movement; and

WHEREAS,

The Meeting

received eight N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards, including best play and best writer, and it received an Emmy award for technical achievement; and

WHEREAS,

The proceeds of

The Meeting

go to benefit the Molefi Kete Asante Institute

; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Waller is the Senior Pastor of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia with a Bachelor Degree in Music Business from Ohio University, a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Marriage and Family from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Waller is an influential revivalist, singer, musician, and visionary who

Upscale Magazine

described as, “an individual who has been called to operate far beyond the restraints of traditionalism”; and

WHEREAS, Mr. El-Shabazz is a Muslim attorney who has practiced complex civil and criminal litigation in both Federal and State Court for more than 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. El-Shabazz is a highly sought-after legal analyst with many appearances on ABC, CBS, Fox News, Comcast Network's

It's Your Call

with Lynn Doyle and Court TV's nationally syndicated shows;

Jamie Floyd: Best Defense, Bloom & Politan: Open Court

and

Nancy Grace: Closing Argument

; and

WHEREAS,

The Meeting

is an influential and relevant instrument for educating the Philadelphia community about individual rights and equality in the face of persisting racial inequality; now, therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor, recognize and commend Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller and Mr. Tariq Karim El-Shabazz, Esquire for their

extraordinary performance in Jeff Stetson's production

The Meeting

.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller and Mr. Tariq Karim El-Shabazz, Esquire as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End