Michael Jackson Fans Turn Out In New York To Salute Pop Icon

Michael Jackson Fans Turn Out In New York To Salute Pop Icon

Thousands of Michael Jackson's New York fans turned out Tuesday to mourn the death of the pop icon.

Crowds gathered in Times Square as well as outside Harlem's Apollo Theater -- where the Jackson 5 won "Amateur Night" in 1967.

Chants of "Michael! Michael!" rang out in Harlem, where about 1,000 gathered to watch the memorial service on a giant screen live from Los Angeles' Staples Center.

Jackson impersonator Moses Harper, teary-eyed at the sight of the singer's casket, danced Jackson's version of "Ease on Down the Road," from the musical "The Wiz." ''I'm just grateful that I got to live in his time," said Harper.

The Daily News interviewed Jackson fans near the famed Harlem theater.

"There's no other place to be than right here to memorialize the King of Pop," said Annetta Williams, 60.

Jorge Flores, a Californian on vacation in New York, made a detour to Harlem, where a big screen was set up at the corner of 126th St. and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. to watch the official sendoff live.

"I had plans to go to the Statue of Liberty today, but I just couldn't miss this," said Flores, 39. "I love Michael Jackson. I had to give him a proper goodbye."

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