Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Here's How You Can Participate In LA's 3-Day COVID Memorial
The full moon rises beyond a white flag memorial installation, outside Griffith Observatory, which honors the nearly 27,000 Los Angeles County residents who have died from COVID-19.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Starting tonight, Angelenos are invited to participate in various activities as part of a three-day memorial to honor the people who lost their lives to COVID-19. Each night bears a different theme.
Thursday’s theme is "Honor.” At 8 p.m., officials are asking residents to applaud the city's first responders, essential workers, small business owners, community groups, caregivers, neighbors and families who put their lives on the line during the pandemic.
In a news conference Wednesday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke of the need to recognize those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 as well as those who continue to grieve.
“If you visit Griffith Observatory, you'll see an incredible installation that was put there," Garcetti said. "27,000 white flags, a sea of flags representing every human being every beloved friend and neighbor that we have lost."
Support for LAist comes from
Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced 26 new COVID-related deaths, bringing the total number of lives lost to 26,949.
On Friday, the memorial theme will be “Remember” and at 8 p.m. the city asks that residents light a candle in their windows to honor the memory of those lost to the pandemic.
The memorial ends on Saturday with the theme to "Mobilize." At 8 p.m. people are being encouraged to step outside and wave a flashlight, or anything else, to light up the L.A. sky.
During the memorial, blue lights will shine at City Hall, SoFi Stadium and the Grand Park fountain to honor the victims of the pandemic.
For people who’d like to share their own pandemic experience, they can contribute to the city’s COVID-19 community archive, a remembrance project memorializing the city's collective experience.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist