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| Jackson fans celebrate his life in Bronzeville. (CBS Photo) |
Posted: Wednesday, 08 July 2009 6:00AM
Jackson fans come out for Michael on South Side
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CHICAGO (STNG) - Electrifying dance moves outnumbered tears at a Michael Jackson memorial held on Chicago’s South Side Tuesday — 2,000 miles from the Los Angeles Staples Center where the singer was being remembered.
At the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Bronzeville, an exuberant crowd of about 150 gathered to remember the King of Pop. The event, at 4701 N. King, was scheduled to continue today throughout Jackson’s memorial and is open to the public.
Live television coverage of the Los Angeles memorial played on a large screen as Jackson’s long roster of hits blared for the Chicago crowd.
“Nobody should be sitting down,” exhorted WGCI-FM’s (107.5) Tony Sculfield. “This is a party y’all. This ain’t a funeral.”
The opening bars of “Billie Jean” caused manic dancing, with children twirling, several senior citizens executing moonwalks and a woman joining hands to dance with a fellow fan in a wheelchair. A few fans paid homage to Jackson by sporting glittery gloves on a single hand, the singer’s trademark.
Despite the celebration, fans couldn’t escape that it was Jackson’s death at age 50 which brought them together.
“It’s a huge loss,” said Leona Mosley, 43, from Hyde Park. “I just hope his soul is resting and he is peaceful and happy.”
Mosley said she and her daughter have spent the last week connecting some of their lives most precious moments with Jackson’s hits.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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