Just days before Meghan Markle was due to be the guest of honour at a charity event at an LA museum, the event has been cancelled due to ongoing unrest in the city
Meghan Markle will no longer appear at a glitzy event in Los Angeles on Saturday as the charity bash has been cancelled due to ongoing unrest in the city. Meghan was scheduled to be the guest of honour at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles, where she was expected to give a speech about her extensive charity work.
However, as the streets of LA continue to be occupied by protestors facing off against ICE officers, organisers postponed the black-tie Night of Wonder event. Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museum in LA, said in a statement : “As an institution ‘of, for, and with Los Angeles,’ our responsibility during challenging times is clear: to serve as a community resource focused on healing and unity, not celebration.”
“Los Angeles needs us to channel our energy toward supporting our neighbours and demonstrating the values that make our city and county strong,” her statement continued.
The statement went on to clarify that the decision to indefinitely postpone the event was made by the museum’s Board of Trustees, leadership and event partners, who “unanimously agreed” that pausing the event was “the appropriate response to current community circumstances.”
Chief Advancement Officer Paul Bessire added: “We will find a future moment to celebrate our work. Until then, we will channel our energy towards being welcoming spaces for learning and discovery for everyone who walks through our doors.”
The museum is expected to reschedule the event for a later date, and will continue with their daily operations and educational programs until the event is back in the calendar.
The gala had planned to honour Meghan and her charity work, focusing on her championing of women and underprivileged communities, with other guests from cultural and philanthropic communities across Los Angeles also expected to attend.
Dr Bettison-Varga had been excited to welcome Meghan to the event, saying in a statement earlier this week: “We are proud to honour Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity – especially for underserved communities – aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation.”
The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan added that Meghan’s mission to advance community wellbeing and uplift young women “dovetails with the museums’ approach to connecting community and science by fostering meaningful educational experiences that empower young minds.”
The event was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, with the gala happening at the same time at royal family will attend Trooping the Colour in London to celebrate the King’s birthday.
Parts of Los Angeles have been placed into lockdown , as locals continue to rise up against ICE officers who have been placed on the streets as part of President Trump’s large-scale immigration policy.
A local emergency has been declared in the Californian city with the National Guard descending on the city, after rioters set fire to cars, looted buildings and attacked officers. The protests began when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers raided the city to detain those who they believed were illegal immigrants.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass warned: “If you do not live or work in Downtown LA avoid the area. Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted.”
