AL SHARPTON - SHARPTON TAKES AIM AT JACKSON CRITICS

SHARPTON TAKES AIM AT JACKSON CRITICS

U.S. civil rights leader REV. AL SHARPTON has lashed out at those paying tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON, who turned their backs on the King of Pop when he was accused of child molestation in December 2003.
The superstar was eventually acquitted of any wrongdoing in 2005, but many former friends still chose to keep their distance - and outspoken Sharpton chose to shame them as he addressed the passing of his friend on the steps of the Apollo Theatre in New York on Thursday (25Jun09).
Sharpton said, "As a friend of Michael's for the last 35 years, I call on people to pray for him. I'm numb and stunned at the reports that Michael has died."
The civil rights leader chose to speak outside the Apollo Theatre because it was a venue Jackson loved - and a place where he was once ridiculed.
Sharpton explained, "He came to the Harlem headquarters of the National Action Network, where many ridiculed him. It's amazing in the last hour to see how many people are praising him, that wouldn't go near him in the last several years and condemned him.
"He talked about how many people had let him down, but I told him he had never let the fans down."
Jackson was officially pronounced dead by the Los Angeles Coroner at 2.26pm local time. He passed away after falling into a deep coma following a cardiac arrest at his rented home in Holmby Hills, California.
The King of Pop was preparing to attend Staples Center rehearsals for what were set to be his comeback shows in London when he fell ill.
Sharpton stirred up fans in New York, with his memories of Jackson, stating, "We've marched together, we fought together... I watched him him sell stadiums out. Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of colour way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama.
"Michael did with music what they did in sports and politics and television and no controversy would erase the historic impact.... He learned how to sing and dance against his worst critics. He used his strengths to help people around the world. Michael Jackson was a trailblazer. He was a historic figure that people will measure music and the industry by.
"We should never stop talking about Michael Jackson."