Jul 8, 2009 6:04 am US/Eastern
Jackson Fans Fill Harlem For Memorial Viewing
Fans From Harlem To Tom's River, N.J. Say Goodbye To King Of Pop At Public Viewings Of Staples Center Memorial
Video Screens At Several Locations Throughout Tri-State To Broadcast Farewell Live
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Yvette Russell (R) of Harlem cries during a broadcast of the memorial for pop singer Michael Jackson in the Harlem neighborhood July 7, 2009 of New York City.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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Fans hold up pictures and CDs of Michael Jackson's during a broadcast of the memorial for the pop singer in the Harlem neighborhood July 7, 2009 of New York City.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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Tickets for Michael Jackson memorial service at Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.
AP
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The Staples Center which is one of the possible locations for a public memorial service for music legend Michael Jackson, after his recent death, in Los Angeles on July 1, 2009.
Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
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The celebration of Michael Jackson's life and legendary career reached all the way east to Harlem, where like a giant block party, groups of fans stood shoulder to shoulder to sing, dance, listen, and remember.
A jumbotron video screen featuring the Los Angeles memorial was set up in the plaza outside the Harlem State Office Building on 125th Street, as hundreds listened to the pop icon's music and periodic chants of "Michael! Michael!" rang out in celebration of the King of Pop.
"I want to feel the energy," said Harlem resident Sintora Simpson. "He was an icon, and I think everybody loved his music. I loved his music."
"Icon." It's a word CBS 2's Pablo Guzman heard as he talked to Harlem residents in the street.
"He was an icon to us," said Kisha James. "You know, my era – I was born in the '70s. My mother played the music, and I grew up to Michael Jackson."
Jackson impersonator Moses Harper of Harlem teared up and hugged a friend as footage of the hearse carrying Jackson's casket was shown. Minutes later, the 31-year-old Harper began dancing to Jackson's version of "Ease on Down the Road," from the musical "The Wiz."
Harper said fans "miss him, but there's a lot to celebrate."
Some felt as if honoring him in Harlem, near the Apollo where the Jackson 5 gained notoriety, it was just as meaningful as being in Los Angeles.
"I think this is the type of event when you're around like-minded people, and you're experiencing the same thing, it's almost the same as being there in LA," said Newark resident Sean Brown.
Crews were busy all morning setting up the area as diehard fans staked out their territory early to get the best spot.
Many fans dressed like the gloved one, signed the wall of remembrance outside the famed Apollo Theater and brought their favorite Jackson memorabilia to share with others.
Empress Cocoa from Jackson Heights brought her Michael Jackson teddy bear, a 1973 Motown 45 of "Dancing, Dancing" and her everlasting love for the gloved one.
"I'm the first one here at the Harlem State Building. I'm here for Michael Jackson," Cocoa told CBS 2 as she was sprawled out on a blanket right in front of the screen. "I love you [Michael] so much. I wanted to marry you, you just didn't know it."
Cynthia Novoa from Flushing wore the signature black fedora and was dancing as a way to express her grief.
"I haven't felt this way for someone who died so suddenly in such a long, long time," Novoa said. "It's a real, real big, big loss. I feel like my god, we're not going to hear any more of this stuff."
Robert Matthews was just soaking in the rays and remembering when he met the Jackson 5 at the Apollo four decades ago.
"Michael Jackson meant so much to me in my life. I grew up in this community all my life. I used to play in Apollo in the back on 126th Street," Matthews said. "I am blessed and thankful I had the opportunity to meet Michael."
CBS 2's Pablo Guzman and Magee Hickey contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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