RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, "Glory" from the film "Selma" has won an Oscar for the Best Original Song; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, "Glory' was performed by Lonnie Lynn and John Stephens, better known by their stage names Common and John Legend, at the 87th annual Academy Awards; and
WHEREAS, Common, a native of Chicago's South Side, also portrayed civil rights leader James Bevel in the film which focuses on civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the 1965 freedom marches from Selma to Montgomery; and
WHEREAS, In accepting the award, Common called the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site where law enforcement officers attacked civil rights marchers, a "symbol for change" that now "transcends race, religion sexual orientation and social status"; and
WHEREAS, A music video of the civil rights anthem, directed by Paramount Pictures, has been released and iincludes footage from the film and the duo also performed the song live at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards; and.
WHEREAS, Common who grew up in south suburban Calumet Heights and is the son of Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines, an educator, and former American Basketball Association standout Lonnie Lynn, who became a youth counselor; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago proudly commends Common, is proud of his talent and dedication which serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eighteenth day of March, 2015, do congratulate Common and John Legend on this monumental achievement and do hereby express our best wishes for their continued success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Common and John Legend.