Meghan Markle's Upcoming Appearance at L.A. Museum Gala Postponed amid Immigration Protests
The Duchess of Sussex was scheduled to be honored for her work championing women at the event, which will now be held at a later date
"Los Angeles needs us to channel our energy toward supporting our neighbors and demonstrating the values that make our city and county strong," said Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of NHMLACMeghan Markle will no longer appear at a previously scheduled event in Los Angeles as clashes continue in the city between the National Guard and protesters.
The Duchess of Sussex was set to be honored at the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County's Night of Wonder gala on Saturday, June 14, but the event has since been postponed.
"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," Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of NHMLAC, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Tuesday, June 10.
"Los Angeles needs us to channel our energy toward supporting our neighbors and demonstrating the values that make our city and county strong," her statement continued.
The decision to postpone the gala 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," the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County said in a release shared with PEOPLE.
NHMLAC plans to host event on a later date, but will carry on regular daily operations and will continue to host educational programs.
The gala planned to honor Meghan, 43, for her work championing women and underserved communities, and the As ever founder was set to deliver remarks at the event, PEOPLE previously reported. Other guests from cultural and philanthropic communities across L.A. were also expected to attend.
'Night of Wonder celebrates and supports the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County's commitment to science, nature, and community,' Bettison-Varga said in a Tuesday, June 3, statement.
'We are proud to honor 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, including through our STEM and STEAM Pathways programs,' she continued.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Meghan and Prince Harry live in Montecito, Calif. with their children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, 6. Since moving back to the U.S. after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan has attended multiple events across the L.A. area, including last year's Paley Honors and Children's Hospital Los Angeles Gala.
The postponement echoes an earlier decision Meghan made this year when she postponed the premiere of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan amid the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. At the time, she emphasized her deep ties to California and the importance of centering the needs of those affected in her home state.
'I'm thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,' Meghan said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 12.
In the wake of the fires, Meghan and Harry opened their Montecito home to friends and others who had been forced to evacuate, PEOPLE previously confirmed. Through their Archewell Foundation, the couple also began working to identify the most effective ways to support the broader community during the emergency.
L.A. has attracted national attention the last few days after President Donald Trump called the National Guard into the city to address protests against ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
The protests, which began on Friday, June 6, have caught reporters in the crossfire, including a U.S. correspondent from 9 News Australia who was hit with a rubber bullet by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Lauren Tomasi told the camera that the situation in L.A. had "rapidly deteriorated," and said, 'The LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of L.A."
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