Stomp the Yard” Producers Address Concerns and Contribute to MLK Memorial
Sorority support of Alpha Phi Alpha aids successful resolution
International President Barbara A. McKinzie, who stood firmly with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in its denunciation of the film, Stomp the Yard, and its producers, announced that a successful resolution had been reached.
To the satisfaction of the Fraternity, producers Rainforest Productions, Sony Pictures and others revised the film to exclude references to the Fraternity. In addition, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. and Screen Gems agreed to make a donation to the Washington, DC Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation Project, Inc.
McKinzie noted that, although the filmmakers were members of Alpha Phi Alpha, they had not observed the fraternity’s written policies and protocol to obtain legal permission to commercially use the Fraternity’s symbols and trademarks. This action led to the fraternity denouncing the film, a position supported by Alpha Kappa Alpha.
McKinzie applauded Alpha Phi Alpha and its General President, Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., for their leadership in galvanizing the Greek community around this issue and for the diplomatic follow-through that resulted in the accord.
She also directed members of Alpha Kappa Alpha to read both memorandums from Mr. Matthews to gain a full appreciation of the legal violations that prompted the initial call to action and the eventual resolution.
Check out the followiing links:
http://www.aka1908.com/pdf/statement...onwithsony.pdf and
http://aka1908.com/pdf/stomptheyard.pdf