USA: REACTION TO OJ SIMPSON ACQUITTAL

English/Nat The trial of OJ Simpson captivated the United States and the world. After nine-months, viewers in cities and towns across America waited on edge for the verdict: a verdict which drew reaction and opinions as diverse as the cultural fabric of the US itself. They gathered in New York's Times Square, waiting to hear the outcome of what had been billed as the "Trial of the Century". Reaction here to the acquittal of O-J Simpson drawing cheers from some, disbelief from others. For some justice was served. For others, it was an example of a system flawed. SOUNDBITE: "They proved that....I'm so happy. Yes! yes! yes!" SUPER CAPTION:Voxpop SOUNDBITE: "I think that this is terrible that he is going to get away with this you know because I do believe that he did it and its just not fair." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop SOUNDBITE: "He's guilty. He's just got to live with himself, man. He knows he did it, the DNA is not racial. It doesn't see black and white it just sees that he was there and he did it. He's got to live with himself that's all." SUPER CAPTION: voxpop Activist Jesse Jackson hopes the trial will open the discussion over race and violence. SOUNDBITE: "During this period of atonement let us have a mood of soul searching and still crowd to stop the violence to stop the domestic violence. We hope that some lesson can be learnt from this and for those on either side of the verdict let this battle be a courtroom battle and not a street battle." SUPER CAPTION:Jesse Jackson, African-American Leader Reaction even coming from the White House, with a presidential statement offering condolences to the families of the victims. SOUNDBITE: "The jury heard the evidence and rendered its verdict. Our system of justice requires respect for their decision. At this moment our thoughts and prayers should be with the families of the victims of this terrible crime." SUPER CAPTION:Mike McCurry, White House Spokesman Across town at a domestic violence seminar, the cheers of some women were tempered by the sombre faces of others. For many, the O-J Simpson verdict does not invalidate their cause. SOUNDBITE: "The jury concluded that there was not enough evidence to convict OJ Simpson of murder. But this acquittal does not change the fact that domestic violence is an epidemic in this country and that domestic violence homicides occur every day." SUPER CAPTION:Esta Soler, executive director for the Family Violence Prevention Fund. In bars and cafes across America, the reaction was as varied and diverse as the racial fabric of the country. SOUNDBITE: "I'm surprised by the speed, I'm surprised that they were able to come to a unanimous agreement in such a short time after having heard eight months of trial in what I think was a complex case." SUPER CAPTION:Voxpop SOUNDBITE: "I was surprised at the verdict, I thought that the quick deliberation by the jury meant that they would have found him guilty, and I thought he was guilty to begin with." SUPER CAPTION:Voxpop Americans watched as the fate O-J Simpson hung in the balance. But the deeper questions of race and domestic violence raised by the trial may be tried in the court of public opinion for years to come. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/2b6ba8674b30b24d0ae9e6c52a36d9e9 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork