Minor Friction At Jackson Memorial

Small Number Of Protesters Gather, One Arrested But King of Pop's Fans Far Outnumber Dissenters

(CBS/AP)  Last Updated 12:50 p.m. EDT

At least one person was arrested outside Michael Jackson's public memorial in the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday.

There were also half a dozen protesters among the crowd, condemning Jackson over his child-molestation charges, holding signs that read, "Jacko in Hell," "You're Going to Hell" and "Mourn for Your Sins."

It's not clear if the person arrested was a protester.

But the day belonged to the King of Pop's fans, as people came from near and far to say last goodbyes to their hero, some traveling from across the U.S. and Europe for his public memorial in Los Angeles.

Near the downtown arena before the service, vendors sold Jackson memorabilia such as T-shirts, collages, buttons and bouquets of snapdragons and dahlias.

"His music will live forever. That's why I'm here today. It's like closure. I'm a person who believes in miracles, and I'm witnessing one today," said Jenee Huitt of Los Angeles, referring to her gold wristband allowing her to be among the lucky fans to attend the memorial service.

---

Complete coverage of Jackson's death

---

Huitt, an etiquette teacher, said she met the Jackson 5 as a girl in the early 1970s.

"Diana Ross brought the Jacksons in to this event, introduced them and said, `They're going to be stars,"' Huitt said.

Fans drove or flew in from northern California, Colorado and as far away as Arkansas, Delaware and England, some just to be outside the event. Some wore trademark Jackson clothing, including sequined white socks and red leather jackets reminiscent of those the singer wore in his music videos.

The scene was reminiscent of one of Hollywood's many awards shows, which draw vendors and celebrity gawkers. Police helicopters flew overhead, and officers patrolled on foot and bicycle. The crowds were orderly.

Fans carried signs such as "Michael Jackson Lives." One turned himself into a walking music video, strapping a flat-screen TV to his back that played Jackson numbers.

Claudia Hernandez, 29, said she loved Jackson's music as a girl growing up in Mexico. Now a day-care teaching assistant in Los Angeles, Hernandez said she has cried watching TV coverage of his death.

"I'm trying to hold in my emotions," said Hernandez, wearing a wristband to allow her admittance to the service and holding a framed photograph of Jackson. "I know right now he's teaching the angels to dance."

Jackson's devotees far outnumbered his critics. Mishelle Van, 37, drove with her cousin from Hesperia, Calif., arriving in Los Angeles at 1 a.m. They spent the early morning hours with other Jackson fans.

"They're touching us and saying, can you bring the love in for us?" said Van, who was among those with a wristband for the service.

Melvin Price, 43, flew in from England on Saturday, even before he knew he had won a ticket to the Jackson memorial.

"I wanted to pay my last respects to Michael Jackson," said Price, dressed in a red leather jacket. "I've been a fan of his for 35 years."

Beverly J. Ellis, 46, said she drove from Holly Springs, Ark., just to be there even though she could not get in. She planned to go to Jackson's Neverland ranch later in the day to take pictures and see if she could get a rock or other souvenir to take home.

"I'm just a groupie. I'm an old groupie now," said Ellis, who held an American flag and a sign with a photocopied image of Jackson. "I'm a die-hard, true fan."

Vernay Lewis, 32, flew in from Wilmington, Del., spent all Monday night on the streets outside Staples Center, wrapped in a blanket to stay warm overnight.

Lewis said she did not care that she traveled cross-country even though she did not have a wristband to attend the memorial. She just wanted to be near the singer and his fans.

"I think it was his kind heart, his gentleness, his childlike ways," said Lewis, who signed a wall for fans to offer farewell sentiments to Jackson. "For me, he was the whole package as far as what an entertainer and what a person was supposed to be. I just think he was wonderful."

true...so true.

[hotdawg09]

Funny thing about those who comment on Mike Jackson's sexuality. None have seen him commit an alternative lifestyle act. None have seen him commit an illegal act with anyone. None can confirm that he paid anyone any amount, other than reading tabloid rumors. If you write a research paper, you cite a credible reference, right? If you publish a medical research article, your paper has concrete facts in it, right? With that in mind, what makes the hapless pseudo-judicial whims of a select few mindless barf bags carry any weight? Those individuals are quick to judge him. If any of those persons consider themselves christians, then for their own sake, they should remember that each individual will be judged according to his or her own works. I dare any one of the individuals labeling Michael to account for their own angelic existence on this earth. Begin with their birth and chronicle every wonderful and sinless moment in their lives. Such an account is impossible for any individual alive or deceased. My point, the houses that we live in are glass. Recuse yourself from your judicial laptop and work out your own mistakes. Allow us to enjoy the blessings that come our way, whether it be in the form of entertainment or some other venue. Don't use the electronic medium to tear down the fantastic legacy that Michael Jackson so artfully created. Wallow in your shame, you heartless creeps.

[SassyKat1950]

Ok, Mr. Sharpton, or Mr. Jackson you raise the money for the memorial, you both sucked enough money from the Jackson family. Michael loved people of all color, but now lets put on the act that Michael was such a Black Man. He point blank loved all people, unlike both of you. You both continue to say ulgy things about white people, which Michael commented on many times. At one point had to shut you up Mr. Sharpton. His Children are his children, even if they are white (they are his and he loved them! He only dated white women (soooooooooo) You cannot stand for any black person to have a memorial, funeral, problem without the both of you putting race into it. Sit down and shut up, or meet the thug who thinks everyone here is a hillbilly. You are no better when you lower yourself to calling people names and telling them to meet you somewhere on the streets of LA. If you are truly a Michael Jackson fan, he is ashamed of you!

[stickdog3]

To whatsup49 and the rest of you people running your mouth in a negative way about this man, please, give me a break! Obviously you didn't watch that memorial service and saw how speaker after speaker talked about the things he did in his life when the camera wasn't there. I live here in L.A. so I know the real, when he got burned during the filming of that commercial, they took him to Brotman Memorial Hospital out here, he wound up building them a brand new burn unit, he visited veterans at Walter Reed Memorial Hospital in Maryland, he helped with the care of countless terminally ill children with cancer, the most famous being Ryan White. This kid was dying of Aids that he got from a bad blood transfusion. I could go on and on and on.
As far as the L.A. being strapped for cash thats not completely true. Actually its b s. This is one of the richest cities on the planet. What the news is not telling you is that they have whats called a "discretionary fund" thats funded and added to every year, independent of the regular City budget. This fund is used for sudden high profile emergencies or events, like our Laker Championship Parade 3 weeks ago, or todays memorial service for Michael. Be careful what you hear and read in the news, a lot of it is totally fabricated and slanted. This man was not only the greatest entertainer ever, but, a great human being as well, who reached out and helped, and impacted millions of people Worldwide. So, I'm not about to stand by and let some hillbillies, who been putting up these posts talk trash like they've been doing. If anything come to L.A. and I'll tell you where to meet me, and we can handle it like that, p*u*n*k*s.

[mommy2528]

My heart goes out to Katherine Jackson and her family....a little over a year ago, I buried my only 2 children and a grandson, it is the most difficult task a mother will ever have to do in her lifetime. Michael Jackson donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help needy families, countries etc., It isn't his fault that he was an icon, and deserved a funeral FIT FOR A KING, and the economy is bad. DEAL WITH IT.

[ramos1129]

There were also half a dozen protesters among the crowd, condemning Jackson over his child-molestation charges, holding signs that read, "Jacko in Hell," "You're Going to Hell" and "Mourn for Your Sins."
-----------------------------------------------

MJ was tried and found innocent of child molestation. That is a fact and that is that. I am not a MJ fan but do respect the right of those who wish to grieve for him and it seems there are a whole lot of them. Let them do that and then we need to move on. Above all, let's respect the family and MJ (the deceased) and hope that someone grieves for us when we are gone. RIP - MJ. I really hope you found peace somewhere because you did not find it here on earth.

[brianbwb-2009]

You must understand that these people obviously have no self respect, and so are unable to have any respect for others.

They are only to be pitied.

Look at the post above about the troops, the poster complains about troops deserving respect, but what are they doing to pay that respect? Spewing about how much they hate a fellow citizen, Mr. Jackson because of irrelevant, or unproven matters.

If they really believed their spew about people dying for their country, or deserving media attention for it, they wouldn't be on a Jackson thread wasting bandwidth.

And for those who continue to refer to unproven allegations, their cowardice is evident because of the anonymity offered by these threads, I wish they would say it to MJ's lawyers, they would find out, as no doubt the idiot politician from New York will, that slander carries a price.

[realnews12]

Sorry, Baggy, it doesn't work that way. He was acquitted in a court of law. There was no "payoff". If you insist there was, then prove it.

[brianbwb-2009]

Bye Mike. I still cannot believe it.

Seems like just a little while ago, you said you would, and you did.

You know I am not the "afterlife" kind of guy, but I do wish you could see them, then you would know what the rest of us on the ride knew.

You wowed them. even more than you dared to believe. Even Mr. Brown told me, "Mike is the last of the true great entertainers, he works almost as hard as I do. If I was thirty years younger, he'd have some competition." some irony, huh?

I walked away from the sharks, the leeches, the ******, the hustlers, and the sycophants, but you were trapped. I told you it was because you cared far too much for too many people that didn't deserve it. I know how hard it is to get off the stage, it is better than s*ex, more addicting than heroin, sweeter than most humans have ever tasted, and so hard to let go. Not many are able to understand it.

You thought you could handle them, but hey, who has ever been able to? Not a single one, there are too many of them, that is why I got out.

At least I can still out-play 'em all, though, and I always will be able to.

Thanks, friend, whats inside stays inside, as promised.

Goodbye.

[credibility2]

Let's continue to glory worship celebrities who commit despicable acts. This is the new morality as determined by the indecent and celebrity enamored. There are plenty of celebrities and sport's figures who have committed criminal acts and who are excused for their behavior by their weak-willed and characterless fans.

[realnews12]

Well that may be true, but Michael Jackson was not one of them. He committed no criminal acts. He was a loving, caring, sensitive person, who also happened to be a phenomenal, one-of-a-kind entertainer. RIP, Michael.

[inachu1]

If he truly was a child molester he would be in jail right now alive and unable to take the drugs that killed him.

One of the main things about child abuse when it happens to you is that it stays with you for the rest of your life no matter if it was just regular abuse or sexual abuse. You spend the rest of your life trying to understand the pain and you keep going back to that painful moment and it locks you in into a constant state of childhood.

You should be going after his father moreso than MJ.

Rest in peace MJ no more pain will come to you.

Amen.

[baallen5]

Please don't speak for everyone. This guy was a head case. He did not act like a normal person and was sure no one to idolize. If you would like to now what is wrong with our nation, here it is. Spending millions, people who don't even know this guy flying in from all over the world to stand outside of a memorial service? Give me a break. This money would have been better spent on the living, those people struggling to make it through the day. Californians that have been forced to take time off without pay would have been better served. I would have told people to take an alternate route that didn't want to attend this spectacle and then let those idiots that did attend fend for themselves. You wander why our country is going down the drain, it's because no one has any morals or values.

[blog_fever2]

He who is without sin cast the first stone.... for the last time people, he was aquitted from all charges. Regardless of what you believe personally, there was no evidence of wrongdoing. Period. God forbid any of you get accused of any wrongdoing. Remember, it is innocent until PROVEN guilty, not the other way around. That is all.

[AttentionDeficit]

blog_fever: his acquittal was in a court of law, not in a court of public opinion. no evidence of wrongdoing? why then did he pay that family $22,000,000?

[realnews12]

It was a different family he settled out of court with, 10 or so years earlier -- not because he was guilty but because he didn't want the humiliation of a long trial. He had plenty of money then so why not just get the money-hungry family off his back ? Evidently, this gave other money grubbers ideas and other false accusations were hurled at him. He let it go to trial in 2003 trusting in the justice system to prove his innocence. And it did. The boy who accused him at that trial has now recanted his story. He has admitted it was all a LIE (but some of us knew that already). MJ wouldn't hurt a fly.

[jclark7613]

*IThoughtitwasfunnyNot*

This not about our troops. Get a real life and don't watch if you don't like it. I did not realize you lived in his home to see what he was doing. You was a lucky man to live there and witness so much.

[jclark7613]

If you don't like MJ or what's on tv then turn it off. If the internet it showing it to much then turn it off and stop being hypocrites. This is what happens when you are loved...this is the mean of love... people he never meet loved him and have cried for him. I'm sure your parents taught you if you have nothing nice to say then keep it yourself on this special day.

[debinok1]

Given the economy and people having to cut spending on even basic needs and the constant worry about being laid off, I have to ask, how many of these "fans" took a day off of work or used bill or food money for the trip to this fiasco?

[momofthreebo]

Some of you people need serious help!!

[reboot7]

I can't believe California wants people to HAND them money for Michael Jackson's funeral service... HOW TACKY!

I live in Galesburg IL where the President stopped obviously for some reason - 3 major factories CLOSED! Big loss of jobs!

We have Railroad Days every June.
DO WE STOPPED PEOPLE AT OUR CITY BORDERS AND ASK THEM FOR MONEY? DO WE ALL LINE UP AT THE BORDERS AND ASK FOR FOOD OR MONEY?
NO!

Grow up California and take care of yourself... ask some of those rich celebrities for some cash.

[gravyboat4000]

Did ya hit yur head this morning?

Or are ya always this,"thick"?

[TNisgoodenoughforme]

Why is this being done? I thought CA., was broke? Your right its tacky. I kinda feel sorry for the MJ. If people leave me laying around for 11 days & parade my dead butt around, then I'm coming back to haunt

[ErrorInUse]

Errrr, for all of you numbskulls flapping your floppy lips about LA city or county wanting to be REPAID (not paid folks, repaid) for the $$$ they are forking out for this, just remember, the fans wanted it. Why isn't a collection being taken up from the fans? Don't blame LA for wanting to be reimbursed. And as for those heathens protesting at his funeral...take your lame ***** home, sit down and ****.

[whatsup49]

where i live, we have to pay off duty police officers to escort funeral processions. the state of california shouldn't have to foot the bill for the spectacle for wacko jacko. his family can well afford to cover the bill for the city's services to this circus of a funeral. celebration? hell, no. what's to celebrate for man who likely died a drug-related death, who allowed young boys to "sleep" in his bed, who had a monkey as a close companion, and who died a sad and lonely man? there is no cause to celebrate this man's life.

[picklepants7]

Grow up California and take care of yourself... ask some of those rich celebrities for some cash.

this is the moronic mindset that is destroying our country. that's why the rich are leaving california, and taking jobs with them. poor people for the most part don't create jobs, the rich do. and if you take the incentive of creating jobs by taxing them out of the wazoo, then guess what, no new jobs. the california government spent out of control trying to please the poor, and the illegal alliens.