USA: WASHINGTON: OJ SIMPSON GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 20. 07. 2015
  • (29 Aug 1996) English/Nat
    Former American football star O-J Simpson has given his first full-scale news conference since being acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her male friend.
    He defended himself against charges he had been largely absent from the civil rights movement and the black community.
    Simpson also said he'd received widespread support from white people.
    But he declined to discuss details of the upcoming wrongful death civil trial - a judge has issued a gag order in the case.
    O-J Simpson on Thursday defended his role in the black community at a hastily called press conference in Washington DC.
    The presser came a day after Simpson basked in the adulation of an inner-city church
    crowd in the city as he continued his campaign for public acceptance.
    One of the first issues tackled by the former American football icon was his civil rights record.
    He lashed out at reporters who implied he ignored the black community when he was famous.
    SOUNDBITE:
    I can't follow you, you don't know what you're talking about. My best friends are black. When I got married you look at the people standing next to me, the majority of them were black. Half of my wedding was black so you ask questions but you don't know what you're talking about. You just throw things out there and you happen to be ignorant of the things that you're talking about.
    SUPER CAPTION: OJ Simpson
    Simpson, who also has been a TV sports analyst and interviewer, declined to discuss details of the upcoming wrongful death civil trial.
    A judge has issued a gag order in the court case, barring participants from discussing the case.
    However, Simpson did use the occasion to tell the media he was hard up.
    SOUNDBITE:
    I was just as happy then as I am now and if my future is one of poverty or whatever, I think the people around me are happy and I can get along just fine. Whatever you send me I need. Whatever you send me I could use.
    SUPER CAPTION: OJ Simpson
    During his visit to the Scripture Cathedral, a Baptist church in the predominantly black Shaw neighborhood of Washington DC, Simpson had said he still believed in God.
    He even told those gathered at the church that he had the Lord on his side.
    Simpson received a warm welcome from the church congregation - most of them had paid 10 dollars to hear the former football star speak.
    And although he was reared in California, the trip was a homecoming of sorts - a homecoming to those who backed him during the double murder trial.
    But not everyone was happy with his presence in the capital.
    Members of an anti-domestic violence group staged a silent protest outside the church.
    They said a known abuser of women should not be allowed to speak in a church.
    But during Thursday's news conference, the protest wasn't mentioned.
    Instead, Simpson defended himself against charges he had been largely absent from the civil rights movement and the black community.
    SOUNDBITE:
    I just didn't feel it was my call. No, not because of what hurt me in any shape or form. It just wasn't what was on my mind. I don't know what you do. I mean what charity are you involved in? I mean what have you done publicly speaking for the black cause?
    SUPER CAPTION: OJ Simpson
    Simpson proclaimed he had always been a Christian and hadn't just turned towards religion and the black community because he was ostracised from high society.
    SOUNDBITE:
    My kids are happy to be half white and half black. You're not going to get me into any kind of racial thing about white and black. I don't feel that I'm a racist. I never have been and I never plan to be.
    Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
    Twitter: / ap_archive
    Facebook: / aparchives ​​
    Instagram: / apnews
    You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

Komentáře • 388