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Among Jackson's strongest supporters have been his family members, who have publicly denounced the charges and supported the pop star " Clark, who never prosecuted another case after losing the nation's most famous murder trial, admitted it was strange to be on the other side of the media attention I feel your pain
"We're here to support Michael Jackson and we just want the world to know that we don't try you in the media," said Harper, a minister from Creek Bridge Church in Carmel
With news crews from around the globe arrayed among more than 18 trucks, mini TV studios and satellite dishes, the scene outside the courthouse Friday was reminiscent of the O The boy appeared in the same TV documentary in which Jackson defended letting children sleep in his bed as "sweet" and non-sexual
"I campaign for everything I believe in," Dowland said Leave Him Alone Charles Harper led a prayer before the Los Angeles buses carrying fans to the arraignment pulled away
"It's a bizarre world," she said He stands for so much â€â€? all the goodness in the world and innocence Jackson to Face Arraignment in California
Jan 16, 11:34 AM EST
Hundreds of Michael Jackson supporters chanted and waved signs outside a courthouse Friday as a throng of international media awaited the pop star's first court appearance since he learned two months ago that he would be charged with molesting a child
Although small compared to Simpson's "dream team," Jackson's defense expanded Thursday with the addition of New York attorney Benjamin Brafman, a principal of the firm that won acquittal for Sean "P "He loves Charlie Chaplin, and I'm here to support him and he's innocent
The alleged victim was a cancer patient Jackson had befriended and who had overnight stays at the singer's Neverland Ranch We Believe In Michael Jackson J His father, Joe Jackson, arrived at the courthouse Friday morning for the hearing at about the same time Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon entered the courtroom "
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Nearly 10 years after the Simpson trial brought a media horde to the Los Angeles courts, many of the same players trekked 150 miles northwest to an area better known for its vineyards and strawberry fields than its criminal cases Simpson murder trial which became a blueprint for the celebrity trial
Fans sang the Jackson Five's "I'll Be There" and hoisted banners reading "Stay Strong Michael" and "100% Innocent
Geragos announced that Brafman would act as "co-lead counsel" and would appear with him at Friday's arraignment "We're just here in support because it's all about love and supporting one another, no matter what you're going through "
"There's strength in numbers," said supporter Amber McCrary, 26, who boarded a bus in a suburban Los Angeles Kmart parking lot with her two children, ages 4 and 2
I now get to see what the press went through in Simpson "
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Associated Press reporter Jeff Wilson contributed to this report from Los Angeles "I'm Michael's favorite character," she said Jackson's mother and brothers arrived shortly afterward with his attorney, Mark Geragos
Other fans were traveling by the busload from other parts of Los Angeles and Las Vegas "
Another fan, Audrey Ruttan, 28, of suburban Van Nuys, was dressed as Charlie Chaplin Diddy" Combs on bribery and weapons charges in 2001
Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark stood outside the courthouse Thursday reporting for "Entertainment Tonight
Jackson, who has maintained he is innocent, was charged last month with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine "It's like everything is turned upside down "And I believe in Michael He was freed on $3 million bail "
Melanie Dowland, a 28-year-old Jackson fan, said she traveled all the way from London for the arraignment |