Sharpton Wants Jackson Stamp, L.A. Wants Financial Help

On the day before thousands of people were expected to throng the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles for Michael Jackson’s memorial service, the Reverend Al Sharpton called for a U.S. postal stamp honoring Jackson. The city of Los Angeles, for their part, simply said "how ‘bout a little help?" to the uber-wealthy Jackson family. There were all sorts of stories flying out of L.A. as the press and the masses prepared for the event. Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s ex-wife an the woman who has emerged as the potential guardian of his children (two are her children as well), noted that she would attend the memorial, and had scored VIP seats.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry noted that she’d be happy as a clam if the Jacksons helped cover some of the city’s costs associated with the memorial services, but there has been no word from the family. Perry also noted that "We’re encouraging people to stay away." Perry was concerned about mass confusion, snarled traffic and potential problems from people crowding around the downtown area without any particular place to go.

Said Al Sharpton, "The city is trying to do what it should do to secure people. That’s what cities do. Clearly, no one in the family are happy that the city is incurring any expense at all. You’re talking about an historic figure that will have an historic celebration, probably one that we would not see similar in this generation." Indeed. Sharpton also called for a Michael Jackson commemorative stamp and took issue with some of the portrayals of Jackson in the media. Said Sharpton, "I’m here because of the disgraceful and the despicable way [the press] is trying to destroy the legacy. You have had other entertainers that have had some issues in their life; you did not degrade and denigrate them." Sharpton, as always, had the not-so-hidden agenda of putting himself in front of cameras in a desperate attempt to remain "relevant" in the modern sociological and pop culture landscape.