Despite child molestation accusations, L.A. Unified restores school auditorium sign in honor of Michael Jackson. A good idea?

Michael Jackson was a musical icon. He also was a man dogged by accusations of inappropriate relationships with children.

In 2003, after Jackson's arrest on suspicion of child molestation, L.A. school officials covered over a sign with his name on it at the Michael Jackson Auditorium at Gardner Street School in Hollywood. Jackson was ultimately acquitted, and after his death last year, fans urged the L.A. school system to uncover the sign.

Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines ordered the boards stripped away Friday "in recognition of Michael Jackson's musical legacy and contribution to modern culture."

A school district spokesman told The Times' Kate Linthicum the decision was made in large part because Jackson had been acquitted of criminal charges in the molestation case. (In 1993, a 13-year-old boy filed a civil suit accusing Jackson of sexual molestation. The pop singer, while declaring his innocence, eventually settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum that sources say was at least $15 million.)

On Friday night, a Facebook page calling for the restoration of the sign was overflowing with joyous comments.

"I could cry!!" one person wrote. "I wish he were here to see this!!"

Jackson was briefly enrolled at Gardner Street Elementary. In 1969, he and his family moved to Los Angeles from Gary, Ind., so that Jackson and his brothers could make a record with Motown.

What do you think about L.A. Unified's decision to restore the sign? Share your thoughts below.

Photo: Michael Jackson. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Dimple]

Yeh it was a good idea! Seen as he was PROVEN INNOCENT by NOT GUILTY verdicts on all counts. He was a victim of a disgraceful biased media.

Catholic Priests however there not a good idea. They should be banned from being near any CHILD, let alone teach them in schools!

[Dimple]

Michael Jackson didn not settle the case in 1993 and pay out money to the boys family! The court document states that “the 1993 civil settlement was made by Mr. Jackson’sinsurance company and was not within Mr. Jackson’s control… The settlement
agreement was for global claims of negligence and the lawsuit was defended by
Mr. Jackson’s insurance carrier. The insurance carrier negotiated and paid the
settlement, over the protests of Mr. Jackson and his personal legal counsel.”
Those allegations—that Jackson had molested a 13-year-old boy—instigated a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, two grand-jury investigations and a shameless media circus. Jackson, in turn, filed charges of extortion against some of his accusers.

Interesting also, that the second boy's family used the same lawyer and psychologist as the first family of accusers, who went on to make millions from these allegations!
The Media dont tell you that do they?”

[Dimple]

Michael Jackson fans will forever fight for the TURH to be heard! We will never stop or be intimidated by yellow journalism and it's sectionalist biased need to keep tarnishing A GREAT ICON's legacy! We will always win because we have truth on our side, as we have won today!

Haters can beat it!

[davela69]

THE KING OF PEDOPHILES.

The only reason Jackson didn't go to jail is because he paid-off the state's witness, $21 million dollars. Society must not glorify pedophiles, even if they contribute money or dance well.

[Teresa]

I think this was long over due. Michael was found innocent. For the school to cover up that name because of accusations even AFTER he was found innocent shows that the school has no faith in the justice system, so Im curious what they teach the kids in class about the justice system? And I frown upon the LA Times for the JUMBO words in the title of this article. Why must we drag his name through so much mud, when he was FOUND INNOCENT? Long story short, thumbs up to the school... finally. He was a good man, and Im happy to see his children showing signs of concern and help for others as well. How a person is a parents says a lot about that person.

[Camille]

WONDERFUL idea! This is great.

[lmat]

It is because Michael Jackson was totally exonerated in 2005 and because
he deserves the right to be treated as such that his name was uncovered
at the school. It is not....'despite the allegations.' The principal, parents,
the School Board and the Superintendent understand that it is consistent
with the legal system in this country to respect the court findings.

It is twisted, inflammatory and offensive the way this article is presented.
Do you not get it? This sort of media hype is not acceptable any longer,
time to stop.

[John]

The mere fact that a jury was unable to find Jackson guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in no way implies that he was innocent. Jackson was a talented freak who paid a huge sum of money to the family of a child he was accused of molesting.

He isn't an obvious choice as a role model, but considering the LAUSD's history of incompetence this decision isn't much of a surprise.

[John Doe]

A roll model for kids? I DON'T THINK SO! His life was not realistic, only a dream. Thus, followers will spiral down till they are all on relief or in prison. Too bad!

[Madge]

Of course it was the right thing to do to take down the cover - the sign should never have been covered in the first place - and your article headline explains why. He was only "accused" of committing a crime (and the facts strongly support that he was wrongly accused.) he was not convicted, he was not found guilty, and he was not proven to be a child molester.
What kind of message does that teach children if we punish people who never committed a crime? What does it teach them if the court of public opinion convicts someone based on hearsay, innuendo, and misleading information from the media? What does that teach children about fairness and justice?

I am so proud of the fans who fought for this and the school officials who supported it. It's one small step to restoring Michael's legacy as a talented artist and generous humanitarian. My only wish is that he was still alive to see it.

[bow1958]

Yes! This was a great idea and the RIGHT THING to do! Michael is an innocent man, always was! It was a disgrace to cover up his name in the first place! It's ridiculous to see those posting who have no information on the FACTS in 1993. You should educate yourself before continuing to spread your lies, rumors and innuendo based on what the media told you. They did not report the TRUTH. The truth is documented for those who are interested. It's great to see Michael finally get his long over-due JUSTICE! We will always be there for you Michael.

[John Doe]

The sign should say -'STAY IN SCHOOL AND OFF DRUGS". Jackson's NAME MEANS NOTHING AND WILL DISAPPEAR IN A COUPE OF YEARS WHEN A NEW "JACKSON" WILL APPEAR AND THE FOLLOWERS WILL GET OLDER AND REALIZE HE MENT ZERO..

[beau]

Great,it was long overdue

[Maria Tereza]

The school would have the "obligation" to discover the name of Michael Jackson as soon as he was acquitted in 2005 or when he was still alive. But anyway I am very happy and proud, especially for their children. Having the name Michael Jackson printed in any educational institution is a pride not only to the U.S., but for the world! MJ was, is and will be the biggest star on the planet! Michael, I love you!

[JDarslow]

The man was a bonafide hero and genius. Why wouldn't he be honored in this way? Obviously, the school recognized long ago, along with the rest of the world, that Michael was not some ordinary performer. He changed the landscape of the music industry forever. Not only that, his monetary and community contributions to the world says something about his love for humankind. Besides, he was acquitted of all those malicious charges in 2005. Although we may never know why he decided to pay large sums of money to that Chandler family instead of fighting it, we can rationally surmise that the family who made such allegations have been trying to ward off some invisible torment since that time. Michael was and has always been INNOCENT.

[bow1958]

Statement to the school board from award winning journalist for truth in journalism...

From Charles Thomson

The US constitution dictates that every American citizen has the right to a fair trial and that until proven guilty, every citizen is presumed innocent. This is a fundamental principle of American life and forms the very basis of the US legal system.

Michael Jackson was a US citizen, no different from any other. He had the same rights as any other citizen and when he was exonerated by a jury, he should have walked out of the courtroom with no stain on his character, just like any other US citizen.

But Michael Jackson wasn't treated like any other citizen - not before his trial, not during his trial and not after his trial.

The prosecution of Michael Jackson was one of the most frivolous wastes of taxpayer money and one of the most horrendous abuses of power in the history of California. In pursuing Jackson, Californian police officers breached the terms of their own search warrants, stole defense documents, conducted illegal raids, leaked sealed documents to the media, verbally abused Jackson in television interviews and were caught trying to plant fingerprint evidence during grand jury hearings. This was the dictionary definition of a malicious prosecution.

After Jackson was acquitted on the basis that the prosecution had no evidence and no compelling witnesses, that should have been the end of the matter. But a combination of manipulative propaganda released by the prosecution and shoddy reporting at the hands of the media meant that Jackson wasn't able to walk out of the Santa Maria courthouse with no stain on his character. He was denied this fundamental right. The continued censorship of Michael Jackson's name on the Gardner Street Auditorium is a continuation of this injustice.

Throughout this campaign, staff at Gardner Street School will have heard much about Jackson's charity work and his humanitarian efforts - but in a way, that is all irrelevant. It reads almost as a list of redeeming qualities, but this issue does not call for redeeming qualities. This issue is very simple. Michael Jackson was a US citizen, entitled to the same rights as any and every other US citizen. He was never proven guilty, ergo he was innocent. To continue covering Jackson's name on the Gardner Street Auditorium even after his acquittal is to strongly imply that he was a guilty man. This is unfair, unconstitutional and un-American.

Gardner Street School should decide to once again display Michael Jackson's name on its auditorium not on the basis of a petition or a list of humanitarian achievements - but simply because it is the right thing to do. The continued censorship of Jackson's name on the auditorium is a blow against everything that America is supposed to stand for, and a gesture of support for malicious prosecution, abuse of power and the erosion of civil liberties.

In brief, to uncover Jackson's name would be a gesture of support for everything the American justice system stands for. To continue censoring Jackson's name would be a gesture of support for everything which is wrong with the American justice system.

It is up to the staff of Gardner Street School to decide which of these values they wish to instil in their students.

Charles Thomson

[u know]

Funny to read how ignorant people are. Michael Jackson was not found innocent. He was found not guilty. HUGE difference, if you go back and hear the what the jurors said you will see how incredibly lucky Jackson was. The jurors, based on the evidence, did in fact believe Jackson did molest the victim. HOWEVER, based on the the jury instructions given by the judge they had determined that the reasonable belief threshold had not been met. The jurors did say that they should have voted guilty because thats what they thought he was. Those of you who defend Michael Jackson do in fact defend child molestors. That is sick.

[Andy K]

If that's the best image you can find the district is in a great deal of trouble.

[Olden_Atwoody]

Was he convicted?

[Bike LA]

"Accusations"

[Sally]

Michael Was and is a perve, now sick little boys can go to be safe because he is gone

[bow1958]

@ u know

Your lies are as shameful as the medias. There is much video evidence of the jurors saying the exact opposite of what you have posted here. You are the one who is sick. I hope someday someone accuses you of something you didn't do and see how you feel about it. I hope the person who accuses you is a welfare cheat, a proven extortionist, and a proven purger (just like the accuser in MJ's case). I hope the media picks up on your case and condemns you even though you are an innocent man. I hope you never recover from the damage to your reputation and I hope no one ever stands up for you in your fight for truth and justice. It would be a terrible if the scenario I just painted was the way most people are, wouldn't it? Well, fortunately, because of Michael Jackson's influence on my life and the values he taught me through his example, I could never wish such a thing on anyone. It's a shame that you are the person who actually lives out in reality the above scenario. May God forgive you for your ignorance which is blatently obvious.

[Kelly]

I think they should restore the sign for the man. He was a humanitarian he was a lot of good things people didn't want to come to terms with while he was living. It is a shame. I hope he truely is Heaven now.

[nijode]

The reason that a jury finds you not guilty is that in America you are NOT GUILTY, until a jury finds you guilty. Many of you need to read our constitution a bit more slowly than you did in 5th grade.

[Chris, Indiana]

Extortion, Extortion, Extortion, more Extortion, more Extortion, media, media, media, look at the same people from the first time around, now. All got one thing in common, fraud and posturing.