Michael Jackson prays regularly with Jesse Jackson
-16/03/05
Singer Michael Jackson has been starting his trial days by praying with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
The news was confirmed by both the minister and the singerís spokeswoman.
Michael Jackson receives advice from the activist minister, on both spiritual and personal issues, said Raymone Bain, the singerís spokeswoman.
ìTheyíve known each other for a long time,î Bain said.
The american civil rights activist and Baptist pastor Jesse Jackson has just returned from a visit to Britain to boost participation of black voters in the upcoming general election.
Bain said the singer usually wakes up at about 4:30am, and talks to Jackson for 15 to 20 minutes. The two talk to each other by phone and pray together, she said.
The court has been told that Michael Jackson twice molested a 13-year-old cancer victim after plying him with white wine he called ‘Jesus juice’.
Earlier in the case, the pop star also received advice and security from members of the Nation of Islam.
Jackson said in a telephone interview that the entertainer and his family are Jehovahís Witnesses and the prayer they share is nondenominational.
ìI counsel him and his family,î said Jackson, a civil rights leader and former Democratic presidential candidate.
He said his main message to them is to ìstay focused.î
ìThis is a difficulty for all involved, the accuser and the accused. … He will survive this,î Jesse Jackson said.
He also said that it was unfair that Michael Jacksonís jury has no black members, and he challenged a reporter to imagine a situation in which a white person would be charged with molestation and have a predominantly black jury.