Official statement from "Michael Jackson Es Inocente"
Madrid, November 23, 2003
Last Tuesday, November 18, over 70 investigators from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Department raided Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch to serve a search warrant. News of this story broke and spread worldwide in a matter of minutes, citing a TV network, famous for its sensationalist content, as its sole source of information.
Pending official confirmation from authorities as to the nature of the investigation, the case was promptly speculated with, tried and convicted in the court of media, lacking the ethics and basic principles that are presumed from credible and reputed reporting.
24 hours later, authorities confirmed during a press conference that an arrest warrant had been issued for Michael Jackson on multiple counts of child molestation. The general atmosphere during the official statement was frivolous and lighthearted, while jokes and derogatory remarks were frequently made by the Santa Barbara District Attorney, Tom Sneddon.
Two days later, media throughout the world rushed to reveal breaking news of a handcuffed Michael Jackson entering the Santa Barbara jail building after surrendering to police authorities to confront the charges made against him. The reporting of his arrest far surpassed coverage granted to an event of the magnitude of the terrible terrorist attack in Turkey.
Article 11 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that "Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense". For this reason, we ask people in general and the mass media in particular to respect the presumption of innocence that Michael Jackson, like the rest of us, deserves. The "Michael Jackson Is Innocent" Platform (www.michaeljacksonesinocente.com) fully supports the demonstrations and vigils carried out all over the world with the main objective of fighting for presumption of innocence and an objective and factual information by the mass media.
PRESS CONTACT: Verónica Muñoz - +34 647 487 065
prensa@michaeljacksonesinocente.com
The foregoing statement was read and delivered to all the media in attendance during the demonstration that took place on Sunday, November 23, in Madrid, Spain.
PLATFORM “MICHAEL JACKSON ES INOCENTE” (Michael Jackson is innocent)
www.michaeljacksonesinocente.com
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
www.michaeljacksonesinocente.com
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Madrid, November 23, 2003
Last Tuesday, November 18, over 70 investigators from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Department raided Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch to serve a search warrant. News of this story broke and spread worldwide in a matter of minutes, citing a TV network, famous for its sensationalist content, as its sole source of information.
Pending official confirmation from authorities as to the nature of the investigation, the case was promptly speculated with, tried and convicted in the court of media, lacking the ethics and basic principles that are presumed from credible and reputed reporting.
24 hours later, authorities confirmed during a press conference that an arrest warrant had been issued for Michael Jackson on multiple counts of child molestation. The general atmosphere during the official statement was frivolous and lighthearted, while jokes and derogatory remarks were frequently made by the Santa Barbara District Attorney, Tom Sneddon.
Two days later, media throughout the world rushed to reveal breaking news of a handcuffed Michael Jackson entering the Santa Barbara jail building after surrendering to police authorities to confront the charges made against him. The reporting of his arrest far surpassed coverage granted to an event of the magnitude of the terrible terrorist attack in Turkey.
Article 11 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states that "Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense". For this reason, we ask people in general and the mass media in particular to respect the presumption of innocence that Michael Jackson, like the rest of us, deserves. The "Michael Jackson Is Innocent" Platform (www.michaeljacksonesinocente.com) fully supports the demonstrations and vigils carried out all over the world with the main objective of fighting for presumption of innocence and an objective and factual information by the mass media.
PRESS CONTACT: Verónica Muñoz - +34 647 487 065
prensa@michaeljacksonesinocente.com
The foregoing statement was read and delivered to all the media in attendance during the demonstration that took place on Sunday, November 23, in Madrid, Spain.