the chicago skyline will go dark on 19 january, for a national covid-19 memorial service. as will many other cities throughout our country.

at 6 p.m. on tuesday mayor lori lightfoot is asking chicagoans to turn off lights, go outside and light a candle in honor of the 2 million people that have lost their lives to covid-19 worldwide. the event is happening across the united states.

navy pier and the group that organizes the skyline’s holiday-themed lights have already signed on to go dark.

the concept, after 10 minutes, everyone is supposed to turn their power and electronics back on. if you can, gradually relight your building and set your exterior color to orange. this process is meant to simulate the lighting of a candle as part of a nation-wide memorial. this symbolizes the movement from darkness to light.

president-elect joe biden and vice president-elect kamala harris will preside over a lighting ceremony for victims in washington d.c. at the lincoln memorial reflecting pool.