Richmond fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson
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Michael Jackson vigil
Michael Jackson fans hold a candlelight service outside the Coliseum in Richmond.
AP
(File photo)
Aaron Crews remembers the day he begged his mother to buy him a Michael Jackson poster from a vendor on Broad Street in downtown Richmond.
When his mother said yes, Crews says he started "moonwalking up and down the street." He was about 9.
Now 34, Crews stood on stage and held up the same poster yesterday evening for a cheering crowd of hundreds of people who assembled outside the Richmond Coliseum for a vigil and a celebration of Jackson's life.
People of all ages, including several local politicians and die-hard fans dressed as Jackson, watched as performers took the stage to sing and dance to some of Jackson's best-known hits.
The event was sponsored by Citizens Against Crime, an organization founded by Alicia Rasin better known for holding vigils for homicide victims.
Several of those attending last night's vigil said they were tired of hearing in the media about Jackson's personal problems and just wanted to remember the performer who changed their lives.
Daniyel Willis is a self-described street dancer who goes by the name "Popadock" in Atlanta. He was dressed in full Jackson attire, wearing a red shirt with golden tassels, a black hat and a single white glove.
He danced for the crowd to parts of Jackson hits "Billie Jean," "Thriller" and others. The Richmond native said Jackson taught him he is never too old to accomplish his dreams. "He was my inspiration," he said.
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, Councilwoman Reva Trammell and Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, also spoke at last night's event.
Jones said some of Jackson's music sends a message of personal responsibility, including his song "Man in the Mirror."
"We must look at the man in the mirror, and we must start with ourselves to make this a better place," Jones said.
Callie Overstreet of Chesterfield County said she has cried about six times since Jackson died. "He was the best as far as I'm concerned in dancing and singing," she said. "I'm sorry, not even Elvis" was as talented.
Rita Dumas of Richmond recalled seeing Jackson perform in Richmond when she was 12 or 13.
"I liked Michael Jackson up until he started changing his appearance," Dumas said.
Stephanie Jackson said her 8-year-old daughter, Star, just stared at her mother when she broke down in tears over Jackson's death, so she brought Star to the event to help her understand her mother's reaction.
"I think it's an honor to be here," Stephanie Jackson said.
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or
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Reader Reactions
People please don’t get upset with the ignorant comments being made. Michael Jackson was the world’s great entertainer barnone! You are in Richmond, VA remember that! The capitol of the good ole south! So most of the ignorant comments are racially motivated. When Elvis Presley died, did the media remember him as an overweight, drug-abuser who died in a bathroom with a needle full of herion in his arm that dated a 14 year-old, or was he eulogized as The King of Rock and Roll?
When Woody Allen dies, do you think the media will focus on the controversy behind him marrying his own stepdaughter, or on the films “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” and how great they were? (Ditto for Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock and roll pioneer who married his 13-year old cousin.)
Or how about good ole’ Frank Sanatra who beat women, was involed with the mafia and was an alcohol/drug abuser. If I’m not mistaken he’s on U.S. postage stamps. So all the negetive comments you all make, you can’t take away any of the good things Mr. Jackson did! I would love to see the skeletons in the closets of some of you people who always post these negative and racist comments…lol So just BEAT IT! ...lol
I dont care what label you put on it. He’s not guilty. But thanks for the education on the justice terminology Smith.
jh28,
I can easily see someone giving hush money if they already have hundreds of millions. Especially given that the justice system is a joke. Throw on top of that the fact that he didnt like the spot light and everyone was out to get his money anyway they could. Would I have done that in his shoes, probably. Because sheeple like you think that he’s guilty until proven not guilty or innocent or whatever. Too many in this world are easily swayed by the media.
actually, JH28 is technically correct, there is a technical and legal difference between innocent and not guilty. being found innocent means it was determined that someone did not commit a crime. being found not guilty simply means the prosecution didn’t have enough evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt.
jh28,
Your Fact #1, he was found not guilty. Your either guilty or not, right? So, if he’s not guilty, then he’s not guilty. He;s Innocent/free/walking the streets/not guilty/whatever. What a FACT you just stated. Thanks for the news flash. Lay off the smoke dude.
The MJ defenders sure have a hard time citing the facts.
Fact #1 he was charged 4 years ago. He was found not guilty. He was not found innocent. These are two different things people.
Fact #2 he paid off a child and the childs family in the mid 90s before the case went to court. California changed their laws because of the Jackson case so that the accused could not buy off their accuser.
If you were innocent of something would you pay your accuser millions of dollars of hush money? Ok fine he was not found guilty in a court of law, but don’t mistake that for being innocent. Is OJ innocent of 2 murders?
oh well, it’s all a mystery, and we’ll never truly know that side, and that’s a fact. facts are nice aren’t they? they sort of give things a bit of credibility.
you know, i just can’t change how wild and wonderful it was to have his music be such a constant part of my formative years. i just can’t.
i stopped following his career in ‘93. but it doesn’t change the impact he had on my life leading up to that point, and i don’t think it’s necessary to pretend that he didn’t have a massive, virtually unparalleled positive impact on the entire world of music and performance for more than 25 years before his personal life shocked the world.
If only those poor hicks on “To Catch a Predator” knew how to moonwalk…
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone? Let he who buys the best lawyer walk free. OJ as never convicted in criminal court either. I’m not saying MJ, (MJ…OJ..hmm) was guilty but I am saying that being found “not guilty” doesn’t mean you aren’t.
Dowhatchalike,
I agree. People that listen to the media and give them full credit are narrow minded, blind, sheeple that the media thrive off of. And, anyone that states he was a sexual predator is baseing it upon the words of parents that took money to leave him alone, instead of putting a supposed criminal in jail. If you ask any parent that has morals, none of them would accept money over justice if their child was molested. Its funny and sad at the same time how sheeple believe anything they hear from the media.
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