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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

With Many Friends, O.J. Confident Of A Bright Future

Associated Press

O.J. Simpson is encouraged by the positive public reaction he says he keeps receiving and is confident a bright future lies ahead for him, he said in a phone interview Thursday.

“They used to say if you’ve got one friend you’re lucky,” Simpson said from his Los Angeles home. “But I have so many very, very good friends. Some people who I’ve felt were only friendly acquaintances have turned out to be very good friends.”

Simpson said that when he recently visited Panama City, Fla., he was greeted by many well-wishers who said they were glad he was acquitted and wished him luck in the future.

“Everywhere I go, even people who drive by the house here are totally positive,” Simpson said from his Brentwood mansion. “In Panama City I didn’t get one negative thing. They were very protective of me. People said, ‘Get you’re head up and go on with your life.”’

Simpson said he was dismayed by those who prejudged him and then criticized his jury’s verdict. He said that in spite of what has been written about a supposed public backlash against his acquittal, he sees just the opposite.

“It’s encouraging to know that people believe in the system,” he said.