Michael Jackson sign is restored at Hollywood school

For seven years, the gleaming silver letters that once proclaimed the Michael Jackson Auditorium at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood were hidden behind white plywood boards.

The boards had been placed there to hide the name of the pop singer at the behest of parents shortly after Jackson was arrested on suspicion of child molestation in 2003. Since his death last year, fans had rallied for the restoration of the sign, which they saw as a symbol of Jackson’s legacy.

Now, Jackson’s name gleams again. 

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 said the decision was made in large part because Jackson had been acquitted of criminal charges in the molestation case.

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!!"

On the page, devotees from places as far away as Japan and Sri Lanka posted photos of themselves holding handmade posters calling for the boards to be stripped away.

Fans had planned to show up at a school board meeting Tuesday to demand that the sign be revealed.

Jackson was briefly enrolled as a student 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.

Jackson was an 11-year-old sixth-grader at the school when the Jackson 5 released their debut album, a smash hit that foreshadowed Jackson’s record-breaking solo career.  

The Gardner auditorium was dedicated to Jackson in 1989. He attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the school's choir sang "We Are the World," a tune Jackson co-wrote.

An illustration of Jackson's face was posted in the auditorium in 1989, and a picture depicting the singer surrounded by children was hung in the main office. The auditorium drawing was removed several years ago because it kept falling down. The picture in the office also was removed to make room for a new intercom system.

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo: L.A. Times file

Comments

[INNOCENT]

This is a happy Friday Night. I am sure he is looking from heven and smiling at us. No wonder he loved his fans more. He knew they are real. R.I.P. our king. There will never be another.

[Maj]

Hooray, justice! :)

[PJ]

FINALLY after 7 long years, someone does right by MJ..Now if media would share facts of the case (audio tape of '93 extortionist who killed himself last year, 2005 trial transcript, FBI report released Dec.2009 which shows additional proof of MJ's innocence and the many extortion, assassination attempts against him, former Pres. Bush, Sr. MJ's little sister Janet..). If only SOMEONE in media with journalistic integrity would do the right thing and report the facts to clear this man's name.

[bow1958]

This is a great victory! Michael's name should have NEVER been covered in the first place! Below is just one of thousands of statements made to the school board to get this accomplished by the award-winning journalist CE Thomson. It is great to see Michael finally getting his JUSTICE!

CE Thomson's statement -

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

[INNOCENT]

Sorry for all the typos.
This is a happy Friday Night. I am sure he is looking from heaven and smiling at us. No wonder he loved his fans more. He knew they are real. R.I.P. our king. There will never be another.
We love you for evermore. I was not sad for the fact that the Jacksons allowed Oprah an enterview. I know in my heart that Michael would not have liked that. She already showed her true colors. She does not deserve the honor of meeting Michael Mom and his children. She is sfter her personal gain. I personally like so many fans stoped watching her way before the trial even ended. She could not have the decency to say when she rerun the 1993 interview after michael passing that he was equitted. she kept refering to the allegations not one time his acquittal.

[bow1958]

This is wonderful news! Michael's name should have never been covered up in the first place! It's great to see Michael finally getting is LONG OVER-DUE JUSTICE!

[Hee Don Rong]

What the ,,,.??!

[jordan padilla]

Long LIVE the King of POP ROCK AND SOUL!

[Dawit]

hopefully this the beginning of the truth revelation of michael jackson. May God bless him, his family, his children, and his fans.

[Kent]

" Lies run sprints.....the truth runs marathons!! " By Michael Jackson

[W]

Uh where's the picture of the sign? We all know what Jacko looks like.

[june]

PJ - you are so correct. Some media needs to come forward with all the false information they have collected over all these years and vindicate Michael for once and for all. And our next step will be to have Tom Sneddon indicted for perjury, malicious prosecution and anything else that can be proven. There are ways this can be done. Find William Wagener's You Tube Channel and join for more information. Michael, your fans will never let you down.
And, Michael, in case you hadn't heard, Martin Bashir lost his cushy job with ABC!

[june]

And Ms. Linthicum - the part about the pictures in the office and in the auditorium falling down or being taken down was completely unnecessary in reporting this happy event. Nothing can undermine the joy in the hearts of Michael supporters tonight.

[crusindeb]

HIStory was changed today Thank God! Michael's light will shine across the universe. Truth and justice will prevail. So proud! WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE THE WORLD WITH L.O.V.E. ONE LOVE - MILLIONS OF VOICES...BRAVO Team!!! God Bless ♥ #MJsNameUncovered

[fg74hb]

So because he was a pop star and everyone loved his music, everyone forgets about him fondling and hurting children... Thats why they took him off or covered it in the first place. Now they put it back up? Not a happy day for the kids he hurt and lives he destroyed. I guess when you have alot of money and famous you can pretty much get away with anything. Just think, it was not just one case he went through, and then he settled.... comon now, settling with a case like that admits your guilt..... Dont say he is looking down at us smiling, cause he is looking up at us asking for water......

[BlameitonKarma]

"Now, Jackson’s name gleams again. "... but it's more than just his name: it's his legacy and his memory, none of which should have ever been tarnished to begin with.

Congratulations to Ramon Cortines on making the right decision and correcting a grievous wrong. This was long, long overdue.

[Rekobeko]

Wonderful news.

[sc441]

GOOD NEWS!!

[Gabiz]

YAY!!! THANK YOU Everyone, who worked really hard to rightfully restore the PRIDE in the magnificent name Michael Jackson!!! United we will also be able to achieve justice against corporate greed, in his honor.

Blessings to all.

[LeeD]

Just want to concur with PJ and June. The two witnesses, Chandler and Arviso, are still with us. I wish the truth could be told, but failing absolute proof, that the considerable body of evidence in favor of MJ's innocence is given serious, prominent publication.

[ywtchr]

I always wondered - If they were so concerned about being affiliated with him after the accusation, why didn't they give his check back?! Hypocrites!

I'm glad his legacy shines on despite the dark cloud of hate that some cast on him.

Long Live the King!

[Julia]

This is so wonderful well done to every one who helped contribute in having Michael's name uncovered I am so proud of you all!! I wish Michael was here to see this!!!

[Michael's Susie]

Michael asked us if we would be there, and I am proud to say that I am one of those special members of his Fan-mily that is standing up for Michael, and running that marathon of truth for him! I am standing with William Wegener to get Tom Sneddon and all others involved, and get them put away for a LONG TIME! It is just too bad that we can't send all the corrupt media that reported (and STILL reports) untruths and half-truths, and keep Michael's name in the shadows that he railed against in his song, "They Don't Care About Us!" We CARE about Michael, and we will NOT STOP until his name and image are restored to their proper place!!

[clearmjsname]

this fantastic news, michael was always innocent and this is further recognition of this.

a wonderful, history making moment for michael jackson

clearmjsname

[Marimacmike]

The Good always triumphs over evil. MICHAEL WE L.O.V.E YOU and We'll always be there for you, R.I.P.