Michael Jackson Fans Pay Tribute with Concert in Gary Indiana

by Amy Judd | July 11, 2009 at 02:38 pm

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Michael Jackson fans gathered in his hometown of Gary, Indiana, to pay tribute to the singer who died over two weeks ago now, but these fans wanted to honour him in his birthplace and his home for the first 11 years of his life.

“This is the origin of it all,” Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, told 6,000 devotees who joined the event at a local baseball ground. “This is where Michael learned to dance, where he learned to sing, where he learned to sacrifice.”

A seven foot memorial was unveiled in Gary by Mayor Rudy Clay, who said that Michael had moved on to a better place.

“He’s going to put on those golden slippers and he’s going to dance all over God’s heaven,” Mr Clay said.

Joe Jackson was present, but kept a low profile at the event, just saying a few words to fans.

At the Steel Yard baseball park, children gathered to dance and sing to Michael's music, and after a video was played with Michael speaking about his love for his hometown.

"Gary, you will always have a special place in my heart," Jackson said in the video played on the stadium's jumbo screen. "And Gary, you are more than good friend -- you are my family and you always will be."

A finale to the memorial consisted of around 700 people holding candles and singing 'We are the World'.

Michael Jackson still has not been buried.

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