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Public Prince Memorial To Be Held Next Friday At City Hall
Prince performs during the 'Pepsi Halftime Show' at Super Bowl XLI. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
A public memorial honoring Prince will be held outside Los Angeles City Hall on Friday May 6. The tribute will begin at 5 p.m. and be held on the steps of City Hall at Spring Street, according to Najee Ali, one of the event's organizers. Ali told LAist that organizers are currently reaching out to a number of former Prince collaborators about performing at the L.A. tribute.Ali, who also organized a candlelight vigil in Leimert Park the night that Prince died, said that although he "respected Prince's wishes to be cremated and have a small service with his family and friends in Minnesota," he felt that Angelenos still needed a more public outlet to mourn the iconic singer.
"I felt that we needed closure because we're still grieving, so I wanted to have a celebration of his life for Prince fans from all across the city," he said. Ali has lived in South L.A. since he was 12 and has been a Prince fan since he was in high school, though his real "love affair" with Prince didn't begin until he saw Purple Rain as a college student.
Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson has signed on to co-sponsor the event, and his office told LAist that they are working with the LAPD and other city agencies to coordinate the details. Ali has also reached out to radio station KJLH-FM 102.3, which is owned by Stevie Wonder, as a possible co-sponsor.
The tribute will celebrate Prince's contributions to music, Los Angeles, and the world, according to a Facebook page for the event. "It will be a big party outside of City Hall," Ali told LAist.
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