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There are a few events that happen in each decade, when everyone turns to
the TV to hear of some tragedy, such as the Kennedy assasination or the Challenger
explosion. I think for the 90s, the most anticipated moment came when the
final verdict was handed down in the OJ Simpson trial. So I ask the question, where were you and
what was your reaction?
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In the interests of not swaying the discussion one way or the other, I won't be commenting on this topic here.
From: ChuckyG
I remember it very well! I was a junior in high school, sitting in geology class when our entire room were waiting for the teacher to bring in a radio so we could listen to the verdict. I remember the room being so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Finally, the verdict was read: "We find the defendant Oranj-Oranthal James Simpson not guilty...and I don't even remember the rest...I was so stunned my mouth literally dropped. I remember everyone in the room was either cheering or in a state of shock!
From: Lori
I was in the 7th grade. Kids were putting candy and money on the line over the outcome of this trial. I thought he was guilty, but I was wrong!
From: John Kilduff
First let me tell you that I was the ONLY person in America who didn't see the infamous car "chase!" I was driving to Florida that day, and was listening to my tape player instead of the radio! Now... the verdict. I was home in front of CNN, watching all day. They had this "Greatest Hits of the O.J. Murders" thing on, showing all the major events. The bloodstained sidewalk. The dog. The Bronco. The Kato. Ito. Cochran. Clark. Furman. It was so obvious that CNN was going to miss this story that I was really surprised that they didn't start to play Streisand's "The Way We Were" or The Beatles' "Yesterday" over the footage! I knew that the jury would let him off. Somebody had to pay for the Rodney King verdict, and I knew that it was going to be the Brown and Goldman families. Knowing that didn't lessen the impact. O.J. Simpson, a childhood idol of mine, killed those two and got away with it because four police officers weren't convicted of beating Rodney King (and just so that you don't think I'm a bigot, those bastards deserved jail too). That was the moment that I lost faith in America's judicial system. Something to tell the kids about. Oh and by the way, here's what happened, the L.A.P.D., in their haste to land the badguy, manufactured evidence and "framed" a guilty man. Good job, guys!
From: Christopher M. Terry
Well, I was at home cleaning up my room when the O.J. Simpson verdict was read and then I heard over the radio: "O.J. Simpson has been found not guilty in deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman."
From: Celeste Keenan
I was on vacation in the States, about to fly to Los Angeles and hoping there wouldn't be rioting and looting in the streets like with the Rodney King verdict!!I was gobsmacked when the verdict was returned 'not guilty'.
From: Hev the Kiwi
I was in grade 7 at the time, and our school had a big assembly in the gym with a big projector, it was crazy. I didn't think he was innocent, but then again, not many people did.
From: Chris Chitaroni
I was in my dorm room at college getting ready to go to class. I knew I was going to be late because they kept stalling and it seemed like they'd never get to the verdict. I knew they would find him not guilty, so I wasn't a bit surprised when they read it. Then when I walked out to campus it was the weirdest scene...absolutely no one was talking...both black and white...everyone was just walking around like they were all waiting for something to explode.
From: Becky
I was a sophmore in high school. The verdict came while I was in Biology Lab. My teacher left to watch the news across the hall. The teacher there was showing the news in his class. This made me realize what their priorities were. That says a lot about the education system
From: Adam
I was in fifth grade at tha time and we having recess when our TA came out there and told us tha verdict and me and friends were jumpin' up and down and all happy and everything at the verdict and the fact that the trial was finally over.
From: Danielle
I was fifteen years old, and a sophomore in high school. My birthday was in just a couple of days, and I could not believe that it was possible that the whole thing came so close to encompassing TWO birthdays. Well anyway, I was at lunch with my friends when we were forced to evacuate to the courtyard right outside the cafeteria. I belive it was a gas leak. This was two hours before the verdict was to be read, and I wasn't really worried that we would miss it. After a few minutes we were forced to go to the front of the school. My high school had over 1000 students so you can imagine the traffic jam! I had homework that I had not finished so there I was sitting in front of the school, papers all around me trying to not get run over, but trying to be ready for when we were allowed back in. Yeah right, after about a half hour we were not only not allowed back in we had to go sit in the football stadium. Students AND teachers were getting worried that we would miss the verdict, some of them were already stating if it got any later they were just going to go home to watch it. Personally, for once I don't think they would have been stopped. Another first was that the teachers let the students out on the field to just goof off and let out steam. A lot of us, were pacing back and force out of nervousness over what the verdict would be. 10 MINUTES before the verdict was to be read we were allowed back into the school. I don't think I ever saw such a mad dash by students INTO a school! Every single television was on, and our sophomore class center administration were watching the tv outside the room as I ran by. We were instructed to go to graderoom (which is basically homeroom in the middle of the day) Other students and I watched the tv and when the jury foreman messed up OJ's name I just thought I can't belive she screwed up. It felt like an eternity. As soon as she said not guilty, I screamed WHAT!!?? A few of the students cheered, while others sat stunned. We attended shortened classes the rest of the day, because of the gas leak, but nobody could do anything but talk about what had happened. It is definitely a day I will never forget. Both because of the verdict and the gas leak.
From: Monica S
I WAS IN MY CAR GOING TO LUNCH WITH MY TWO VERY OPIONATED FRIENDS.ONE BLACK,ONE WHITE.I WAS SO VERY MUCH HOPING THAT THE VERDICT WAS NOT REACHED WHILE WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.OF COURSE AS SOON AS WE GET IN THE CAR WITH THE LITTLE TELEVISON DID THEY MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.MY BLACK FRIEND SCREAMS YEAH,MY WHITE FRIEND SCREAMS #$$%%^%. WELL THEY START RIGHT THEN AND THERE. IT LAST IN THE RESTUARANT , I DONT MAKE A COMMENT EITHER WAY ,BECAUSE PEOPLE AT THE RESTUARANT ARE ALREADY UPSET ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.THAT WAS THE LONGEST HOUR I CAN REMEMBER.
From: G
I was in geometry class and all the tv's in the school were on CNN, so when they read the verdict you just heard this wall of noise all around you from every classroom, some good noise and some bad noise.
From: Sarah
I was in an airplane flying home from San Francisco to Detroit when the pilot put the verdict statement on the radio. I was pretty much shocked along with the rest of my family and everybody else on the plane.
From: G.S.
It was Fall semester of my freshmen year @ Kent State. I was in Psychology, and we were discussing the trial. It came around to 1:00 when the teacher dismissed us. I remember almost running back to my dorm room to hear the results. A lot of us thought he would be found guilty. On comes the tv and out comes the verdict. I guess it helps to be a celebrity, because had I been in OJ's gloves...er shoes, I would have been shot on the spot.
From: Andrew P.
I was a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, a J-Crew, creme-de-la-honky type school. We watched the verdict in Sean Dixon's room in Alumni Hall eating Papa John's. As the verdict was read, there was absolute silence in the hall. Breaking the concussive silence following the verdict, the voice of an upperclassman rang out in the hall, "Let's riot!"
From: Bob Blaskiewicz
I was working at Fuddrukers and the tvs were on. The verdict was about to be announced and all the staff gathered around them and waited for the verdict to be announced. I was shocked. I couldnt believe the whole not guilty verdict basicly was an example for detectives in future cases to better care for evidence
From: CORY
I was in my college dorm. Most of our floor had gathered into one person's room to hear the verdict. There was the typical dorm noise going on in the hall. However, when the verdict came back not guilty, there was complete silence. It was an eerie moment.
From: monica
I remember that day. I was in fourth grade, my teacher wasn't supposed to but we took a TV from the AV room to watch the verdict. We remembered OJ as a football player not a murderer. I'm pretty sure he murdered his wife, and I'm pretty sure it haunts him, but, for some reason I was happy when they read the not guilty verdict. I think that people put money on the verdict, I'm not sure if I did or not. As the verdict was read pandemonium spread across the room. I remember the whole thing from the car trace to the breaking news and updates everyday on the trial. I was happy to see OJ's face light up, he was guilty, but for some reason, I'll remember him as a hall of famer, not a murderer.
From: Steve
I was in a philosophy class at the local junior college. The professor saw how anxious we all were to hear the verdict so he let us out of class early (he was one of the first ones out the door). It seemed like the entire student population had gathered in the cafeteria. It was wall-to-wall students and cops were everywhere outside. There were only two small TV's and they were hanging from the ceiling, which made it very hard to see. One of the TV's was getting really bad reception, so everytime the TV flickered off, half of the cafeteria would yell, and the other half would shush them. Finally, with the smell of marijuana floating over the room, the verdict was read. Half of the students cheered, the other half (including myself and the philosophy professor) booed. It was a very surreal experience - I remember crying because a terrible injustice had just occured and it didn't seem fair. The only comfort is knowing that he will be judged again one day and I don't believe he will be found not guilty.
From: Melissa
I was in my Freshman math class, 6th period. The built in wall tv was turned on, and probably ever other one in the building. I sat there with my friend sitting at her desk infront of me. The whole building was quiet as the verdict was read then some idiot jocks down the hall started cheering. I turned to my friend and mumbled 'idiots' about the jocks and then 'Cowards, they just didn't want any riots to break out'. The rest of the building was kinda in shock. We were just glad it was over.
From: Kate O'Neil
I was giving birth when OJ was fleeing in the Bronco. My son was born so quickly that we forgot to turn the tv off in the hospital room. Our first videos of our newborn have the OJ chase in the background
From: am
I was in junior year, in Math Class, and the verdict was read OVER THE INTERCOM!!! I was happy at the time cause I didn't think he was guilty, but since then I have kind of changed my mind. An interesting moment in High School!
From: Lucy
I was in college in my linguistics class taking an exam. The professor brought a tv in to watch the verdict while writing the exam. I remember when the verdict was read, no really said anything, just some gasps and shaking of heads; we all just collected ourselves and continued taking our exams. I remember thinking, "what have I just witnessed?".
From: Heather
I was a 14-y.o. freshman at Largo High School in Upper Marlboro, MD. At the time of the verdict reading, I had just finished English and was in the midst of a study break (AEP) when my teacher turned the tv on. When the words "NOT GUILTY" reverberated throughout the room, there was near total applause. I was indifferent to the whole thing, largely because the whole fiasco was more a media ordeal than a legitimate pursuit of the truth. Along the way, people forgot that two kids lost their mother and two parents lost their son. But the reaction of my classmates to the verdict was surreal, to say the least.
From: S.E.C.
I remember the whole day vividly. We discussed the whole OJ thing in every class. In Spanish we learned the Spanish words for judge, jury, lawyer, innocent and guilty. Finally 6th period math class came along and my weird teacher left the room to find out the verdict and came back cursing about what happened and half the class cheered and the other half was absolutely shocked.
From: Deb
I was in the main hall of one of the buildings at Syracuse University. There were people all over, sitting on chairs, sitting on tabels, standing around the TV sets. It was very segregated and when the verdict was read, half the room exploded in applause and the other half was silent.
From: Nicole
i was at achool in fifth grade and we took a poll to see who thought he was guily and who thouhgt he was innocent. Only two people in the class thought he was innocent and when the announcement came throuhgt the radio the class went hysterical.
From: katie
I was at school in Katie's class (see above) and our teacher got a tiny little tv and we all sat around it and i couldn't see but we heard that he was innocent and at recess i talked to my friends about it.
From: whitney
I stayed home from school that day just so i could hear the verdict right when it came out. As it turned out, my friends at school got to watch it on TV anyway. I was sitting in the family room with my mother watching it, our eyes glued intensely to the screen. The words "not guilty" were spoken and both of our jaws dropped to the floor immediately. We could NOT believe it, we were appalled and dumbfounded and angered. It was unbelievable.
From: Kristen
When the OJ verdict was read, I was a sophomore in high school. It was Biology class and since I went to a catholic high school, my teacher was a little hesitant about letting us watch it. I remember every detail clearly in my mind as they read the verdict. Orenjal-error by the baliff-Orenthal James Simpson has been found not guilty. I know he did it. I watched the chase, the pre-trial, the whole trial-well I tried to see it and if I couldn't, I read about it, I even read the book. OJ-you make me sick!!!!!!!
From: Jill
I was in the 7th grade. We had TVs in every classroom at my school, and at the time we were changing classes. Someone said that they were going to announce the verdict, so i ran to one of the classrooms (all the TVs were on in ever room) Before they announced it though, i thought in my head "He's not guilty," while everyone else around me kept saying he was. A few seconds later, they announced that he wasn't guilty, and there were people screaming everywhere.
From: Carmen
I too was in the seventh grade and I specifically remember sitting in the cafeteria and having teachers ask us if we wanted to go upstairs and watch the outcome of the trial. A large number of us went up to a room with our lunches in hand and sat and listened for the verdict. When the head juror read," We the jury find the defendant Orenthal James Simpson, not guilty." I remember sitting there thinking if we cant find an attorney smart enough to convict an obvious criminal he deserves to be free. We all ran down back to the lunchroom and started yelling "not guilty" It was one of the most significant times in my seventh grade year, while also the most exciting.
From: andy kuhn
I was in sixth grade adn I remember I was leaving my locker to got to my next class. A whole bunch of kids had found our teachers watching the tv in one of the classrooms. About fifteen of us students came went into the room to watch. The minute the verdict came on half of the room was cheering the rest of us were in shock. I was late to my next class but I was show dismayed it didn't even matter.
From: Brittany
I remember well. I was in 7th grade social studies class and our teacher let us watch the verdict on tv. The whole class was in awe after the final verdict was read. Minutes later, the bell rang, and the whole school was in an uproar talking to one another in the hallways.
From: Chris Camposeo
I was in grade 6 in Indiana (Uneversity Elementry school)and our teacher turned on the TV in our classroom and we watched the verdict there. After the jury announced that he was not guilty the whole class got up and cheered!!!!!!!!!!
From: N
I was in the 10th grade when the O.J. Simpson thing went down. The only reason I knew anything about the case was because of Nicole Brown. She and I have the exact same name, so I never heard the end of it from my friends! Anyway, one of the administrators came on the PA system and announced that we were NOT allowed to watch the verdict because it may cause a big disruption. But my sweet teacher let us watch it anyway. As soon as the jury announced that O.J. was not guilty, all you heard was mixed emotions of shock or excitement. We got in trouble for it, but hey, it was worth it!
From: Nikky Brown
I worked in a law library at the time of the trial. After the lengthy trial and extensive and exhausting media coverage, all I can remember thinking was, "Its about time for the verdict so we can see something new in the news." So the librarians set up a television at the reference desk and students, professors, and lawyers gathered around in silence. You could feel the tension and anticipation in the air. When they read the verdict, "Not guilty." There was a collective gasp as everyone digested the news. Then two reactions: smiles and sighs of relief on one side, disbelief and stunned exclamations of disgust. Then everyone kind of walked away mumbling. Personally, I think OJ got away with murder. But so did Claus von Bulow, Jon & Patsy Ramsey, the KKK, neo-Nazis, brutal city police and all other groups that suppressed, raped, and stole land in forming this great nation. Let's not even get started on the death row policies in Texas. There was nothing new under the sun. It's happened before, but this time, it happened in reverse. I wanted to believe in OJ's innocence during the criminal trial. But as new evidence came to light during the civil trial, I came to believe that he was guilty. However, I view his acquittal as a continuance of the hypocrasy of the US justice system. OJ was spared just as the cops that brutalized Rodney King were spared just as the cops that shot Amadou Diallo were spared. All I can say is, "How does it feel?"
From: Lee
I was in middle school and it was during gym class when the verdict was read. We were outside on the steps, huddled around an old raio that the teacher had brought out. We didn't really understand anything about the trial, but we knew it was an important event. Most of the kids thought OJ was innocent, and when the verdict was read, they cheered and jumped up and down. Then we went back to playing Wiffle ball.
From: Lauren
I think I was in 5th grade eating lunch and the teachers had the radio on and when they said he was innocent, at that time I had never heard so many teachers say "bullsh*t!".
From: Kevin
When the OJ verdict was read I was a fourth grader. At the time, our class had been learning about the court and it's whole system. So like 15 min. before the verdict was reached, our whole class marched down to the library to listen into the decision. I remember the class not giving a crap about the verdict because we were to busy bragging about being out of class while every other student had to remain in class.
From: haggs
I was in the 7th grade and my english teacher had a tv with cable in his room, so he turned on the tv and we sat there as they read the verdict. We had a contest that if you chose the right verdict you wouldn't have to write the essay coming up after the verdict.
From: kristin
My college had a OJ Verdict rally outside the cafeteria that day but I was not there. I was in my grandma's kitchen finishing lunch when it wasa announced over the radio. I spent the whole afternoon listening to commentary from both sides.
From: Shawn
I was in 8th grade that year. We were all at lunch and some kids were going back to class early and I didn't know why. I asked a friend who was on his way back and he said they were going to watch the verdict of the OJ trial. I went back to the math teacher's room and there was about 50 kids in there watching. After the verdict was read there was and outburst of mixed amoutions. Most of them were saying that he should have been guilty. The entire 8th grade spent the rest of the afternoon talking about the verdict.
From: Nyla Howell
I was a sophomore in high school at the time. It was right after lunch periods, and I had just arrived in my Algebra class. The TVs were on throughout the entire school, with CNN being piped in from the sattelite. When the verdict finally came in, the reactions were rather mixed. Some people were cheering, others rather quiet, some were a bit appalled. Somehow things managed to calm down afterwards, but it was big talk for the rest of the day, and for days to come.
From: Shana
I was a sophmore in high school when the verdict was read. It was read right before the passing period. I remember walking down the hallway, completely astounded by the verdict because I thought for sure he would be found guilty.....all the evidence was right there!! While I was walking down the hallway, people were cheering or else standing there, stunned. All I have to say is that our jury system is screwed up and to this day I still think that OJ is guilty.
From: Susan K.
I was in 3rd grade. I was nervously breaking a pecil in half. The lady said NOT GUILTY. I have never heard so many cuss words said at once. I then remember him walking out to his car with a lot of people running after him.
From: John
I remember, I was in 7th grade, sitting in study hall, the teacher was supposed to bring in a tv, but the school didn't have enough so instead the principal announced the verdict over the intercom. Everyone was pretty silent.
From: Brian
I was in 8th grade, English class, when the verdict was read. Not sure if I saw it on tape or on normal TV.
From: Andrew Rae
I have to post because I was actually college-age at the time (not in 2nd grade ;-) I was at Temple Univerity in Philadelphia. I remember being afraid that a riot was going to break out on campus! (For those who don't know, Temple is not exactly in the safest on neighborhoods!) Luckily, it was uneventful. Suprisingly, it seemed that a similar percentage of people from all races were suprised by the verdict. What would've happened to O.J. if he could only afford a court-appointed lawyer?
From: Dan
I didn't watch the verdict on TV, as the whole OJ mess had severely innundated all of the media by that point. I figured he would get off scott-free. Even with that expectation, it was still a shocking and disheartening surprise to find out that he was declared not guilty. It made me wish that I was a public figure so that I could get away with murder.
From: Gabriel Vampyre
I was in 5th grade and we were driving home from school. My dad turned the radio on and we listened to the trial. Me, my father, and my brother who was also in the car were surprised at the verdict.
From: Joseph-Martin Sellers
I was in my junior year of high school. I was at school at the time when the verdict was first read on T.V. I didn't get a chance to see it on T.V. at school, but I got a chance to see a repeat of it when I got home from school. I remember that day. It seemed like the repeat of the verdict was on almost every channel. And I also remember watching the people on T.V. shouting, cheering, and jumping up and down because they were happy that O.J. was found not guilty.
From: cecilia
I was in high school in Marcellus, NY, during the beginning of studio art class. There were two are classes going on at the time, with a hallway connecting the two classes. Those of us who arrived to class on time gathered around a paint-splattered old radio and listened in silence and awaited the verdict. When I heard "not guilty," I sat in shock as if I had heard incorrectly, while other people jumped for joy. We got to shock each student who arrived late to class after the bell rang with the verdict. It remained the topic of conversation for the next few days.
From: Alyssa
I was 7 years old when it happened all of a sudden i hear the wordr NOT GUILTY. that was the first time you ever heard the words OH $#*! from my mouth. i was really dissApointed.
From: 9900123
I was in 6th grade at the time and all of the students went to their homeroom classes to watch the verdict on TV. I think we were all a little too young to really be concerned with it but apparently the teachers thought it was a good idea for us to watch it.
From: Mandy
I don't recall the date when it was read (that shows you how much attention I paid), but I do remember I was at home watching it happen. I called my mother at work to let her know the verdict, but I think someone heard it on the radio before I called. Just shows that the justice system can be bought. Doesn't matter if you are guilty or not, just how much money you have.
From: aaron
I was in eighth grade at the time, and I remember that we were held in class longer than usual so that we could get the verdict. After the verdict, we were released in to the hall for a longer-than-usual break. I remember that a lot of people were, shall we say, irritated. This is most vivid because I got punched in the stomach over my view. I wasn't sure what I felt, but I leaned toward not guilty due to tampered evidence. (I lived in an extremely racist area at the time.) When I look at things now, I still don't know what to think. The evidence pointed to him being guilty, yet the evidence was manufactured, yet the manufacturers were part of the organization responsible foe the Rodney King incident, etc. Who could tell? If LAPD hadn't been so desperate to prove themselves after the King incident, perhaps they would not have tampered evidence, and O.J. would have gotten the fair, speedy trial that all American citizens are entitled to.
From: Wooly
I was nine years old. I was in the fourth grade and i remember how sick everybody was of the whole OJ thing since it had been going on since we were in the second grade. We were in Math class and we were all wondering what was going to happen. Then our french teacher came in and told us the news.
From: Alicia
I was in 7th grade. I was in 7th peroid Study Hall and our teacher took us to the Science room with the 8th graders and I remember sitting in the back of the room watching what was going on, on the tv. When the verdict was read most of the people in the class stood up and started screaming. I just kinda sat there, I didn't really know what to say.
From: Ashley
I was taking vacation from work to care for my best friend who had just had her wisdom teeth removed when OJ fled in the Bronco. I had the TV turned down low and was barely watching, and as soon as I realized what was happening, I watched in disbelief but didn't turn it up much because my friend was sleeping off the anesthesia on the sofa behind me. When the verdict was read, I was at work, and a TV had been brought into a conference on our floor. We all crowded in, watched the verdict, sat in stunned silence, and then went back to work.
From: Sherilyn
I was in choir when the verdict was read. Our teacher brought a T.V. in so we could watch it. After the vertict was read, everyone was so shocked and my choir teacher stormed out of the room and was mumbling under his breath how bad it was.
From: Brynn
I was in 2nd grade when the verdict was read. I remember watching it on one of those horrible vcrs in the school library. I didnt care much about it then,only that it occasionally interrupted power rangers. after the verdict of not guilty was announced, pretty much everbody was silent. i guess even being in 2nd grade, we knew it was a big deal.
From: m
At the time, there was a big lice epidemic going through the Chicago are public school systems, so all of the guys had their head shaved. I was in high school on the sixth floor in intermediate algebra. Our teacher stopped class and turned on the radio when one of the kids in the back row said he was listening to it on his headphones and they were about to read the verdict. All I could think of was if there was going to be a riot, all these guys with shaved heads were going to be in trouble.everyone would think it had to do with race, not lice. Media ignored the lice crisis.
From: Bev
I remember it very well. I was only a 4th grader in elementary school but everyone no matter what age new about the OJ case and had seen the footage of him being chased in the Bronco. Anyway, I was eating lunch in the cafeteria and they had the teacher's lounge door propped open so everyone could watch the case on the teacher's lounge tv. Needless to say, the teacher just "loved" having their breakroom overrun.
From: Chad Graves
I was a sophomore in high school, and we were in the cafeteria during lunch. It was the only time in my whole school career that I didn't hear a single sound from anywhere, or anyplce. Everyone's eyes were glued to the TV set, it was crazy!
From: Cookie
I remember where I was, I was sitting in my classroom in 5th grade, and we were tuning into the trial. I was eating a taco when the verdict was announced, and the room was the quietest I've ever heard it
From: Nate Demers
I was a senior in high school and sitting in math class. I remember all the math teachers wheeled in this huge TV and stopped teaching until the verdict was heard. We actually have a picture of everyone's reactions in my year book.
From: Annie
I was in eighth grade civics class when I heard the verdict. As soon as the verdict was read, shouting could be heard from the cafeteria. It was a mixture of boos and cheers. It seemed as if all the black people were cheering and all the white people were booing. But the thing I will remember most is this: " We the jury, in the above entitled action, find the defendent, Orenthol James Simpson, not guilty in the crime of first degree murder upon Nicole Brown Simpson. The rest I cannot remember, but those words were monumental. Brett
From: Brett
i was in 8th grade, it was during the time that I was an office runner. We had the tv set turned on and all of us working including the staff that was in there just put down everything and waited for the verdict!
From: jaime
I was at a friend's dorm room at Western Michigan University. Me and about 6 other people were crowded around the TV. I remember the second before the verdict, my head thought, "it's going to be not guilty." Then,I remember the footage at the local TV station showing immediate reactions from around the city. Either cheers or jeers. My friend then said, "Wow, guys, we've seen it. I bet we'll always remember this moment." I guess so!
From: Joe P
I was in my sociology class in college, when our professor said that she would let us leave to watch the verdict as long as we were willing to take a quiz the next class period on our assigned readings. We all agreed and I went to find the nearest television. I was standing in the lounge in Meece Hall, only because there was no where to sit. The room was jam packed, and all of us were waiting to see what it would be, guilty or not guilty. When the words "not guilty" were said, I just remember thinking at that moment, "a murderer just went free." I could not believe it. Even now, I can not believe how badly the justice system failed us that day.
From: Chris Williams
I was at home with my mam watching. i was glad even though i thought he was guilty.
From: JUNE
I worked at a 24/7 customer service phone bank with over 100 people. We all stopped to watch on a tv someone brought in. Managers were mad but there were no calls coming in because everyone in the country was watching the same thing.
From: John
I was at home with my husband, I remember being happy...but somewhat doubtful. Some time after that I read the book by the Goldman family and now I realize I should have booed.
From: Alexandra
I was in the 8th grade in my history class when my teacher turned on the T.V, so we can watch the verdict of O.J Simpson. When the teacher turned on the T.V. everyone in the room got really quiet. When the juriors said that O.J was not guilty everyone was in shock, except for me. I had a feeling the whole entire time that they were going to find him not guilty. I was also happy, because i was glad that the trial was finally over.
From: Dani
I was at Ft. Eustis VA attending my Transportation Officer Basic course... we took a break from the class and we all moved down to another classroom with a big screen TV. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew he was going to be found not guilty.
From: Rob Harrington
I remember this so well. I was in 4th grade, and it was lunchtime. I had a friend who worked in the library, so we went in and watched it on the librarian's portable TV. I was so sure that he was guilty, it really shocked me.
From: Nick
I was in 6th grade, and in English class when I heard the results. They announced it over the loud speaker so the whole school heard. Everyone thought he'd be guilty, but they were wrong!
From: Rachael
I remember i was in seventh grade. We were coming back to French class and our teacher told us we couldn't watch the verdict. So a friend of mine bolted ahead of the teacher and got to the class room and turned on the TV. When we got to the class we all walked in as the juror were coming out. We watched and of course were stunned.
From: Chad Baudoin
I was in my 8th grade English class when the verdict was read. It was an hour and 30 min class and I remember the teacher had the TV on the entire class waiting for the verdict. Everyone sat there in silence the whole time, which is very unlike 8th grade kids! As soon as the verdict was read, my teacher broke down. We didn't know what to say, or what to do. Finally, she told us that her first husband used to beat her much like OJ had done to his wife. I guess the trial hit too close to home for her. I will never forget that day.
From: Marie
i think my being british has something to do with the fact that until 2 day i didn't even realise that he was "not-guilty". i don't remember anything much about it. but i remember where i was when i heard about princess diana being killed. that was a big shock.
From: emma
I was in 11th grade, in the band room at school, the first bell had just rang. They read the verdict as the second bell rang. I along with 30 other people ran to my next class, where I was watching the end fo the verdict.
From: Seth
I was at my daughters elementary school helping out.. We had the t.v. going in the library and everyone in the school was in there!
From: Shirley
I was a junior in college at the time, at Purdue Univiersity in Indiana, a very conservative school. My friend Michelle was obsessed with watching the trial every day on TV, and whenever I was within the vicinity of her dorm room, I had to watch with her, and so I fed into the hype of the verdict being announced. That afternoon, I was in the Purdue Student Union, eating lunch by myself while the big screen TV was on in the eating area. I remember the silence that overcame the whole place as they were about to read the verdict. Someone turned up the volume on the TV. The verdict was read, and there was another 30 seconds of complete silence afterwards, and then the place errupted. People were shouting in anger and in happiness, people were laughing and yelling.. and I just looked around at everyone, knowing that I was a part of history and that I would never forget this moment.
From: Kristen
I was in 6th grade at the time and in English class. Everyone was talking about it that day, some teachers even had radios and were listening to it throughout the day. It was 8th period and the principal announced it over the PA. Everyone couldnt believe it, we all thought he was guilty.
From: Rachael
I was jerking off in the bathroom at the time when I heard that he was not guilty. I was so happy that I continued to jerk off and i exploded all over my dogs face. ;)~
From: GullyTheGangsta
I was in my freshman year of high school in my physics class. I knew the verdict would be read that day, but I didn't know when. All of a sudden, a student stuck his head in and told us that he was not guilty. At that point, I cheered, much to the dismay of the other students who thought he was guilty (the teacher probably thought he was guilty too, but the school forbade teachers from berating students based on their opinions.) For the next few days, I was constantly being badgered by angry peers who asked me why I thought he was not guilty. To which I responded: "I feel that the whole thing was set up!"
From: Larcen Tyler
I was in fifth grade when I hear the verdict. I was the only white kid in my class, and everybody else was sure OJ was innocent. The teacher turned on a radio in the class and all the students gathered around. I remeber hearing the verdict, and the cheering of the rest of the class, and I just said to myself, "If I say something about it, I'll get my ass kicked." So, I kept quiet about it all day. I guess that shows how the beliefs of one person can get the others persons ass beat.
From: Kye
I was a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, in Alumni Hall (Go Dawgs!) in Sean Dixon's room (you don't know him). We had ordered some Paps John's for the occasion. I was eating a peppercini as the verdict was read. When the "not guilties" had been read, the entire hall was completely silent. After the initiall concussion, while the Hall was still silent, I heard someone down the hall, doubtlessly one of my fellow Caucasians (Notre Dame is mostly lilly-white), exclaim: "Let's riot!"
From: Another Bob Blaskiewicz
I was a senior in highschool. when we heard the verdict was going to be read the whole school got into the auditorium and they put cnn on the projector and the wrong verdict was read off.
From: Tim Donnelly
I was working for a lawyers' office at the time. Both lawyers, the legal assistant, and I were sitting in the conference room watching the small TV. When the verdict was read, we all looked at each other, of course in disbelief.
From: Aimee
I was in the 3rd grade and we were all sitting on the carpet after recess. One of the teachers walked in (and we all knew what was coming) "Not Guilty" she said. I came home and sat down. I began to watch CNN where they showed the clip of the verdict about 1500 times.
From: Dan Lytwyn
I was in 6th grade, sitting in the back of my World History class, and we were the only class in school that got to watch the verdict live on tv. Our teacher just wouldn't back down, and we all thought we were soooooo cool... :O)
From: Katie
I was in 5th grade in dallas.. we were all learning about ships or conquistidors or something, when out teacher, Mrs. Geddie pulled out a T.V. we were all so excited and some kids got kicked out for screaming. Finally everyone got quite. and the other students snuck in and we all watched The jury denounce every charge on O.J. Personally i thought he was innocent.. but i always give people too much credit.. It was probably him anyway.
From: Joshua Hagen
I was in my High School World History Class (10th grade) when the verdict was read. One student pulled out his walkman and tuned in to a news station to listen to the verdict; after it was read, HIS WALKMAN WAS CONFISCATED by my teacher!!! It's stupid, but finding out all of this had to be done.
From: Brian Tamayo
I was in seventh grade sitting in social studies when the principal set up the radio by the intercom and broadcast it through the entire school. I remember it taking forever to read the charges and then finally the virdict. We all sat in stunned silence not believing that he was seen as not guilty.
From: Rose
I was in social studies and my teacher turned on the news. When I heard "not guilty" I siad to my friend, Nick, "Those dumbasses let a killer go!"
From: Andy
I was at a beach house in Galveston, Texas with my mom, brother, and aunt when we saw it on tv. I don't remember their reaction exactly, but i know they were positive he had done it, so they were probably pissed off at how ridiculous it was.
From: DJ Farrar
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