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11-23-03, 10:12 AM
Vigils Held Worldwide for Michael Jackson
Sat Nov 22, 6:47 PM ET Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson fans held candlelight vigils around the world Saturday to support the pop megastar as he faces allegations of child molestation.
Faisal Malik, 29, a Los Angeles fan who helped organize a gathering near Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said he believes the performer is innocent.
"No other entertainer ever has opened his house so much to people," Malik said in a telephone interview. "True charity comes from the heart."
Rallies were scheduled through the weekend in more than a dozen cities, including New York, Budapest and Rome. Others were planned over the next week in China and Australia.
Jackson surrendered to Santa Barbara County authorities on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued alleging that he committed lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. Authorities have said they expect to file formal charges sometime after Thanksgiving.
After posting $3 million bail, Jackson flew to Las Vegas, where he had been working on a video. But his attorney, Mark Geragos, told the Los Angeles Times he planned to meet with Jackson at the star's Neverland ranch near Santa Barbara on Saturday.
Geragos, who has said Jackson denies the charges, did not return repeated calls Saturday from The Associated Press.
In Paris, about 60 fans gathered on the Champs Elysees and marched through crowds of shoppers to the Arc de Triomphe. They held candles and banners with slogans of support and sang "We Are the World," the 1985 African famine relief anthem written by Jackson and Lionel Richie.
"It's really hard for us," said Pascale Hatot, a 37-year-old fan from the suburbs of Paris. "I haven't been able to sleep or eat for three days."
Supporters in Rome gathered at the foot of the Spanish Steps just after darkness fell. They held candles and a sign in Italian that read: "Michael: Accused but not guilty!"
"There is an interest to see him fall as a man and as an artist," said Fabrizio Basili, a 30-year-old man from Rome who wore a black shirt bearing the image of Jackson's face. "His album 'Number Ones' came out with some of his great hits, and the same day the accusations came and this is why we're suspicious."
Media reports have said Jackson's alleged victim is a 12- or 13-year-old cancer survivor who visited him at Neverland, where the singer was known to hold sleep-overs for children and share his bed with youngsters.
Stuart Backerman, a spokesman for the Jackson family, said the pop star was feeling "very positive" despite the allegations against him.
"He's fine. He's fighting mad, that's what he is. He's outraged at these allegations. But he is doing fine," Backerman said Saturday.
Backerman said Jackson had received hundreds of supportive e-mails and was buoyed by his fans' loyalty.
"Michael Jackson has said in the past that his fans are his most precious resource. Clearly, the demonstrations around the world reinforce his long-standing feelings for his fans," Backerman said. "He's grateful."
Sat Nov 22, 6:47 PM ET Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson fans held candlelight vigils around the world Saturday to support the pop megastar as he faces allegations of child molestation.
Faisal Malik, 29, a Los Angeles fan who helped organize a gathering near Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said he believes the performer is innocent.
"No other entertainer ever has opened his house so much to people," Malik said in a telephone interview. "True charity comes from the heart."
Rallies were scheduled through the weekend in more than a dozen cities, including New York, Budapest and Rome. Others were planned over the next week in China and Australia.
Jackson surrendered to Santa Barbara County authorities on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued alleging that he committed lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. Authorities have said they expect to file formal charges sometime after Thanksgiving.
After posting $3 million bail, Jackson flew to Las Vegas, where he had been working on a video. But his attorney, Mark Geragos, told the Los Angeles Times he planned to meet with Jackson at the star's Neverland ranch near Santa Barbara on Saturday.
Geragos, who has said Jackson denies the charges, did not return repeated calls Saturday from The Associated Press.
In Paris, about 60 fans gathered on the Champs Elysees and marched through crowds of shoppers to the Arc de Triomphe. They held candles and banners with slogans of support and sang "We Are the World," the 1985 African famine relief anthem written by Jackson and Lionel Richie.
"It's really hard for us," said Pascale Hatot, a 37-year-old fan from the suburbs of Paris. "I haven't been able to sleep or eat for three days."
Supporters in Rome gathered at the foot of the Spanish Steps just after darkness fell. They held candles and a sign in Italian that read: "Michael: Accused but not guilty!"
"There is an interest to see him fall as a man and as an artist," said Fabrizio Basili, a 30-year-old man from Rome who wore a black shirt bearing the image of Jackson's face. "His album 'Number Ones' came out with some of his great hits, and the same day the accusations came and this is why we're suspicious."
Media reports have said Jackson's alleged victim is a 12- or 13-year-old cancer survivor who visited him at Neverland, where the singer was known to hold sleep-overs for children and share his bed with youngsters.
Stuart Backerman, a spokesman for the Jackson family, said the pop star was feeling "very positive" despite the allegations against him.
"He's fine. He's fighting mad, that's what he is. He's outraged at these allegations. But he is doing fine," Backerman said Saturday.
Backerman said Jackson had received hundreds of supportive e-mails and was buoyed by his fans' loyalty.
"Michael Jackson has said in the past that his fans are his most precious resource. Clearly, the demonstrations around the world reinforce his long-standing feelings for his fans," Backerman said. "He's grateful."