Memorial dedicated to 210K COVID-19 victims held outside of WH
Black chairs were used to represent those who have passed from COVID-19 at the 'National Day of Remembrance' which was held near the White House
Almost seven months into the coronavirus pandemic, it has taken the lives of over 200,000 Americans. A memorial was held near the White House to shed light on those who have lost their lives and the loved ones who mourn them.
Folks congregated on the Ellipse last weekend according to The Washington Post, which was covered with 20,000 black folding chairs. Each chair represented 10 people killed by the virus thus far. COVID Survivors for Change, an organization designed to help those impacted by the virus find resource, declared Sunday National COVID-19 Remembrance day. The event was hosted by legendary singer Dionne Warwick, who was a U.S. ambassador for health. During her speech, Warwick told the audience taking action against the disease starts with them.
“The loss of lives has grown daily, leaving us all directly or indirectly affected by this disease,” she said. “It takes all of us to raise our voices — we know we can’t always rely on the folks in charge to hear us unless we say it loudly and clearly.”
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The singer also had a message for front line workers who have sacrificed their lives to take care of those who are sick. She added they “who have endured so much to keep us fed, housed and educated. We have not done enough to honor those sacrifices, and our country has not given them what they need to help and keep us going.”
President Donald Trump recently announced he tested positive for the coronavirus along with the first lady. Trump attended a large gathering at the Rose Garden to announce his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, on September 26th. He received negative feedback from who critics who were upset because many folks who attended the gathering were not wearing masks or social distancing. After the event, Trump and eight others contracted the virus.
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Dara Kass, an emergency medicine physician and associate professor of emergency medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, spoke out at the memorial.
“When I watched that Rose Garden event I was horrified. I saw children and adults and elderly people all unmasked and not socially distanced, against all recommendations we have,” she said. “When I think of the 200,000 who have died, and all the people who will be infected because of how his administration behaved, it continues to disappoint me not only as a doctor, but as an American.”
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