Czechs oppose plans for Michael Jackson statue

PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs are protesting plans to place a Michael Jackson statue in Prague.

A group of fans plans to erect a two-meter (six-foot) column with a bronze bust of the King of Pop in Letna Park, where Jackson held a concert in 1996. They want to unveil it Aug. 29 to mark Jackson’s 52nd birthday.

City authorities have approved the project.

By Tuesday, more than 2,000 people had joined a Facebook protest claiming it makes no sense to put the statue in the park because Jackson had no connection with the Czech Republic.

“Michael Jackson — rest in peace, and leave our Letna alone!” one Facebook message said.

A Prague art gallery has proposed putting statue by a Czech contemporary artist there instead.