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                     Statement by: Shannon Reeves                          
                      West Coast Director, NAACP                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
   "Historically, the NAACP has been in the forefront and remains          
   committed to the welfare of all children. We know that the              
   allegations of child molestation are to be taken seriously. Thus, I     
   have been in touch with the Director of Children Services of the        
   County of Los Angeles to express that we are sensitive to the           
   allegations of child endangerment. I also stated my serious concern     
   as to the excessive media exploitation of the allegations facing        
   Michael Jackson.                                                        
                                                                           
   "In the United States, a person is presumed innocent until proven       
   guilty. We undetstand that the allegations facing Michael Jacklson      
   are serious. However the NAACP Western Region takes no position on      
   Mr.Jackson's innocence or guilt in this matter. Our primary concern     
   is that Mr.Jackson is being tried and convicted in the press.           
                                                                           
   "We could cite many examples of prominent African Americans and         
   others who have been portrayed unfairly in the press and our members    
   are deeply concerned that the media in this country sees fit to give    
   hour after hour to negative allegations, rather than report the good    
   that is being attempted in the African American Community.This          
   creates an absolute imbalance in the characterization of African        
   Americans in the mainstream media.                                      
                                                                           
   "We could feed a thousand kids, and not get one line in most daily      
   newspapers in this country. We could create jobs and homes for the      
   homeless, and no television camera would appear.                        
                                                                           
   "So finally this is not only about Michael Jackson, but about how       
   the media uses its power to continue to aid in the oppression and       
   degradation of African Americans in this country.                       
                                                                           
   "We know that charges of child abuse are to be taken seriously.         
   Again the NAACP has stood for children's rights since 1909. However,    
   we will not stand idle and continue to allow African Americans to be    
   tried and convicted in the press.                                       
                                                                           
   "Therefore, I am calling on all local units in the Western Region of    
   the NAACP, and committed members and supporters to begin an             
   immediate 45 day review of local and network news to determine the      
   full extent of media bias against African Americans."                   
                                                                           
                      Shared by: Valencia Nelson                           
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