Post by MJSUNIFC on Apr 6, 2005 18:18:46 GMT -5
source: santa maria times
It was a festive atmosphere in the Enterprise Ballroom at the Santa Maria Radisson Hotel when Navi and two female dancers took the stage. Dressed in a white suit, with a white fedora and black armband, the young man on stage was transformed into the celebrity he impersonates - Michael Jackson.
More than 100 of the King of Pop's fans congregated at the Santa Maria hotel to show their support for Jackson. When Navi's performance began - with Jackson's own words of innocence regarding his child molestation trial - the crowd went wild.
Even when technical difficulties threatened Navi's opening performance of "Smooth Criminal," the group of fans sang the second half of the song and even clapped the beat enough for Navi to finish his dance.
The rally was part of the "Many Nations One Voice" event organized by members of the Michael Jackson Fan Club. The four-day event began Friday and concludes today with an early morning bilingual prayer and candlelight vigil in front of the Santa Maria Courts Complex, where Jackson is expected to face past molestation accusations during his trial this week.
The highlight of Sunday evening came when Jackson called and spoke to the crowd through a speaker phone.
"God and the truth are on our side," Jackson said. "We will be victorious."
Jackson, who was accompanied on the phone by his publicist Raymone Bain, said he was speaking from his nearby Neverland Ranch. He told the fans that had he been able, he have been with them at the hotel.
"You understand I can't be there today," he said. "I wish I could ... I know you've traveled from around the world and I'm glad you came."
Marie Augustine traveled to Santa Maria for the rally from her home in Paris. The 32-year-old fashion designer said she has been keeping up with the trial by reading transcripts.
Augustne said she plans to stay until the end of the trial, and she hopes that Jackson will "hold on."
"I want him to know that I pray for him," she said.
Also in attendance Sunday was Tracee Reynaud of Santa Ynez, who was accompanied by a group of children ranging in ages from 5 to 15, who had planned to perform an original song entitled "Michael."
Reynaud said she wrote the piece to talk about love and to allow people to get to know the real Jackson.
"It talks about how people try to tear him down," she explained about the song. "You should hear the truth before you judge."
www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2005/04/06/sections/traffic/7480.txt
It was a festive atmosphere in the Enterprise Ballroom at the Santa Maria Radisson Hotel when Navi and two female dancers took the stage. Dressed in a white suit, with a white fedora and black armband, the young man on stage was transformed into the celebrity he impersonates - Michael Jackson.
More than 100 of the King of Pop's fans congregated at the Santa Maria hotel to show their support for Jackson. When Navi's performance began - with Jackson's own words of innocence regarding his child molestation trial - the crowd went wild.
Even when technical difficulties threatened Navi's opening performance of "Smooth Criminal," the group of fans sang the second half of the song and even clapped the beat enough for Navi to finish his dance.
The rally was part of the "Many Nations One Voice" event organized by members of the Michael Jackson Fan Club. The four-day event began Friday and concludes today with an early morning bilingual prayer and candlelight vigil in front of the Santa Maria Courts Complex, where Jackson is expected to face past molestation accusations during his trial this week.
The highlight of Sunday evening came when Jackson called and spoke to the crowd through a speaker phone.
"God and the truth are on our side," Jackson said. "We will be victorious."
Jackson, who was accompanied on the phone by his publicist Raymone Bain, said he was speaking from his nearby Neverland Ranch. He told the fans that had he been able, he have been with them at the hotel.
"You understand I can't be there today," he said. "I wish I could ... I know you've traveled from around the world and I'm glad you came."
Marie Augustine traveled to Santa Maria for the rally from her home in Paris. The 32-year-old fashion designer said she has been keeping up with the trial by reading transcripts.
Augustne said she plans to stay until the end of the trial, and she hopes that Jackson will "hold on."
"I want him to know that I pray for him," she said.
Also in attendance Sunday was Tracee Reynaud of Santa Ynez, who was accompanied by a group of children ranging in ages from 5 to 15, who had planned to perform an original song entitled "Michael."
Reynaud said she wrote the piece to talk about love and to allow people to get to know the real Jackson.
"It talks about how people try to tear him down," she explained about the song. "You should hear the truth before you judge."
www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2005/04/06/sections/traffic/7480.txt