2020 in Review
Businesses boarding up windows around the Third Street Promenade prior to the Election Day in anticipation of potential civil unrest and violence, on Nov. 2, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Yasamin Jafari Tehrani / The Corsair)
Jackie Sedley | News Editor
The world was still alive when we were warned about the likelihood of widespread death and devastation. Sure, we’d heard about the increasing case rates in the U.S. since the tailend of January, but that can’t happen to anybody...can it? 265 days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as the first pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. 265 days ago, many of us had to look up the difference between “epidemic” and “pandemic.”
And over the past 265 days, we have all been advised to deprive ourselves of our most basic human needs. Abraham Maslow created a Hierarchy of Needs in 1943, breaking down human psychology into five categories of need: physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Coronavirus has successfully challenged all five in a way that I do not think Maslow himself could have foreseen.
We’ve been forced to choose between our health and our innate human desires. Humans are naturally social animals; nobody who actively participates in society can be fully independent, and most people do not wish to be fully independent.
The past 265 days have been called unprecedented, unpredictable, and unbelievable. For many of those leading protests in the streets, however, the murder of George Floyd on May 25 wasn’t unpredictable. They did not consider the subsequent outrage and calls to action to be unprecedented. And, unfortunately, the idea that innocent people of color continued to be killed by police following Floyd’s death wasn’t that difficult for them to believe.
We saw widespread illness and death, heard cries for justice and demands for allyship, and witnessed political immaturities that will be talked about in history classes for decades to come.
Not a single health expert, politician, social reform advocate, or news fanatic can tell you what to expect in the new year. And even if they did, they’re probably guessing.
2020 cannot be summarized, because much of what began in 2020 will continue to unfold. Vaccines are on the horizon, but we do not know how long that will take to be distributed across all demographics. Reformists and advocacy groups are gaining traction, but the fight against systemic inequality and ingrained racism runs further back than a year can mend.
Nonetheless, we all must continue to wear masks, keep our distance, ask hard questions, learn about others’ experiences, and work with 2020’s challenges rather than fight against them. Not only will we save lives this way, but we have the potential to shift society into a healthier, more inclusive space than it was before this year began.
Thousands of fans gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif. to mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant on Jan. 26. The Lakers superstar, his daughter, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. (Maxim Elramsisy / The Corsair)
January
Romelin Barrios Maldonado | Opinion Editor
January marked a heartbreaking start to what would become a tumultuous year. On the morning of Jan. 26, 41-year-old Kobe Bryant passed away in a fatal helicopter crash near Calabasas, Calif. The retired athlete was one of nine passengers who fell victim to the crash. Bryant’s daughter, Gianna Bryant, was among the fallen.
The death of the former NBA star and the crew were later confirmed by the NBA in a letter to their employees.
News of Bryant’s death quickly spread throughout social media platforms, prompting widespread mourning from fans and fellow athletes alike.
Hundreds of Angelenos gathered at the Los Angeles Staples Center, home to Bryant’s former team. Pictures, flowers, and other fan-made memoriam of Bryant covered the stadium’s pavement. The hashtag #GirlDad also gained traction on Twitter, in homage to the star’s quoted pride of being a father to a family of all girls.
Kobe Bryant is often recognized as one of the best players in NBA history. He was an icon to the city of Los Angeles, having dedicated his 20-year basketball career to the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant helped the team win five league championships and was crowned most valuable player once in the regular season and twice in the finals.
The first case of coronavirus in the United States was reported on Jan. 19 in Washington state. One week later, California saw its first case; the patient was admitted to a hospital in Orange County.
February
Romelin Barrios Maldonado | Opinion Editor
Following the death of Kobe Bryant and the eight passengers in the Calabasas helicopter crash, February became a month of remembrance for the former basketball star.
The world mourned the retired athlete’s death by celebrating his legacy as one of the all-time best players of the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA, and other acclaimed sports associations highlighted the many triumphs of Bryant’s 20-year league career. Artists in Los Angeles created several murals of the star and his daughter, Gianna. Fans and fellow Angelenos continued to visit the Staples Center to mourn Bryant’s death.
Towards the end of the month, a memorial service hosted by the Los Angeles Lakers was held at their home stadium to celebrate the lives of Bryant and the other victims of the crash. The date, Feb. 24, was a homage to the Bryants’ basketball jerseys - Kobe was No. 24 and Gianna was No. 2.
Former teammates, family, friends, and fans were among the 20,000 attendees. His wife Vanessa Bryant, along with Shaquille O’Neil and Michael Jordan, delivered tear-filled eulogies remembering their time with Bryant and Gianna. Family friends Cristina Aguilera, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys also performed. Fans who were not able to attend inside, crowded outside, viewing the service from the stadium’s large screens.
Coronavirus cases heightened in February, including the infamous Diamond Princess Cruise ship outbreak that left 20% of the ship’s population infected.
L.A. Marathon runners passing by Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, Calif. on March 8. (Alex Ramirez Canales / The Corsair)
March
Jackie Sedley | News Editor
The United States was flipped on its head in March. The month started with Americans still believing the election would be the biggest headline of 2020, and hundreds of thousands took to the polls on Super Tuesday to vote in the presidential primaries. The L.A. Marathon took place on March 8, one of the final glimpses of pre-pandemic life.
Though COVID-19 had already made its way to the U.S. in January, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the global pandemic on March 11. Santa Monica College (SMC) had its last day of in-person classes on March 12, and the majority of schools across the nation were shut down around the same time.
These announcements set off chain reactions across the state, as people panic-bought as many rolls of toilet paper and bottles of hand sanitizer as they could. Bulk-buying continued through the month, even as grocery stores began implementing social distancing guidelines that led to extended wait times and lines out the door.
The nation fell into an official state of emergency on March 13, and on that same day, 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was fatally shot in her Louisville apartment by police officers. Her name would be seen on social media for months to come, with advocates pleading for the arrest of the cops who killed her.
Los Angeles tried to curb the spread of the virus by enforcing the “Safer at Home” order on March 19, which halted all non-essential activity county-wide. All trails, beaches, and parks were also closed. With hospitals quickly overrun, the navy hospital ship U.S.N.S. Mercy docked in the Port of L.A. on March 27 to relieve medical facilities treating coronavirus patients.
April
Allie Leeds | Culture Editor
In April, as COVID-19 lockdowns carried on worldwide, some Americans settled into an adjusted routine, while others fought against lockdowns. Mask mandates were set into place, requiring Californians to wear a face covering whenever entering a business, along with the ongoing stay-at-home order and guidance to stay six feet apart.
The United States healthcare system faced a serious shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) as COVID-19 continued to rapidly spread. PPE production went into overdrive, and the race to make sure all essential workers — from grocery store employees to nurses and doctors — had the equipment necessary to keep themselves safe. The struggle to find essentials like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, and canned food carried over into the month of April.
The world continued to adjust to the new way of living. Beaches, skate parks, salons, places of worship, and other public spaces remained closed. Easter, on April 12, was the first major holiday celebrated in the United States since lockdowns began. Celebrations were held virtually or at home, with churches closed and public health guidelines prohibiting large gatherings.
The economy was reeling throughout the month of April. The unemployment rate reached 14.6%, a number not hit since the Great Depression. The California government responded to the alarming rise in unemployment by adding an additional $600 a week to benefits. The Treasury issued $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans who qualified, but residents who expected these to be continuous were disappointed. Another round of stimulus checks has not been sent out since.
May
Jackie Sedley | News Editor
Angelenos received a breath of fresh air in May, when nature decided to give us a pleasant distraction from the tumultuous pandemic and ongoing election. This year’s super bloom brought thousands of bright orange poppies to Antelope Valley and Lake Elsinore, and attracted tourists into the Southern California region.
Similarly, thousands flocked to California’s beaches to see the bioluminescent waves, a rare phenomenon related to algae blooms. Many of California’s beaches - including all of those in L.A. County - were still closed due to the pandemic, but this didn’t stop onlookers from heading out to the shores. Beaches reopened on May 13 for physical activities, around the time that the bioluminescent waves ceased.
The year took yet another tragic turn with the unjust murder of George Floyd on May 25, who was killed at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide outrage, including massive protests in the streets of Los Angeles. Mayor Eric Garcetti responded to these protests by calling in the National Guard on May 30 and implementing an 8 p.m. curfew, supposedly to reduce looting and violence. Black Lives Matter and other advocacy organizations have been speaking out against police brutality and systemic racism for years, but the movement has gained extensive media coverage in the months since Floyd’s murder.
Protest in Downtown Los Angeles, Calif., on June 4. (Yasamin Jafari Tehrani / The Corsair)
June
Jackie Sedley | News Editor
Seniors in high school and college participated in virtual graduation ceremonies throughout June, unable to congregate in-person due to the coronavirus. Santa Monica College (SMC) held its virtual commencement on June 7.
With the economy battered and unemployment claims piling up, rushed reopenings started in cities across California. A new phase of reopening began on June 12, with bars, restaurants, salons, gyms, and more all allowed to invite customers back in — so long as they followed COVID-19 safety guidelines. Many of these reopenings were rolled back in later months, when cases began to significantly spike yet again.
The city began to appear the most “back-to-normal” it had been since March. Restaurants started offering outdoor dining, taking up sidewalks and even parking lots to provide services to guests. Similar reopenings were seen all around the state, and Gov. Gavin Newsom mandated the wearing of face masks on June 18.
George Floyd protests continued across the country, and organizers pushed for local and national governments to “prosecute killer cops.” Decades of inaction by prosecutors fueled anger among demonstrators in June, and campaigns for justice for those who have been murdered by police gained more traction. Rayshard Brooks was killed by police officers on June 12, and his name joined hundreds of others chanted by protestors across the U.S.
July
Marcos Mackey-Darden | Staff Writer
In the midst of summer 2020, July brought feelings of boredom as many were unable to take part in their usual summer activities. This led to the surge in and popularity of drive-in movies which helped many gain back some aspect of normality, as well as a feeling of nostalgia.
Beaches were closed on July 4, in an attempt to curb further spreads of coronavirus, but a spike occurred nonetheless following Independence Day. Toward the end of July and into the beginning of August, the L.A. County Department of Public Health noted a significant increase in cases and hospitalizations most likely linked to July 4 gatherings. Later in the month, on July 17, gyms followed in beaches' footsteps and closed again after being briefly permitted to reopen.
The Los Angeles Fire Department was quick to the scene of a fire between the southbound 405 and Sepulveda Boulevard, just north of the Getty Center exit on Sept. 11. As fires rage across the state, this fire near the scene of the 2019 Getty Fire, was quickly contained. (Maxim Elramsisy / The Corsair)
August
Johaira Dilauro | Staff Writer
If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that life comes at you fast, hot, and filled with unexpected turns and sometimes devastating loss. From extreme heat waves and endless wildfires, to virtual presidential nominations, August delivered a heated variety.
On August 14, the port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon shook the world. The explosion was caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate that was being stored at the city’s port, injuring more than 6,000 people and killing 204.
The hottest August in California’s recorded history combined with lightning thunderstorms on August 16 and 17, led to the most devastating fire season in California’s history with over four million acres burnt down. In the month of August alone, 367 fires were simultaneously burning in California.
On August 18, during the second night of the first virtual Democratic National Convention, Joe Biden became the official Democratic nominee for the 2020 presidential election.
After 5 months of bad at-home haircuts and new grey hair growth, hair salons and barber shops were allowed to offer services indoors with 25% capacity on August 28.
On August 29, the world mourned the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, the first African American protagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Black Panther star had been quietly battling stage three colon cancer since 2016.
To complete the sizzling heat, on the last day of the month Santa Monica College started the Fall semester entirely remote for the first time. The campus was desolate and the Zoom classes began.
Will Rogers State Beach was filled with beachgoers escaping the heat wave on Sept. 16, in Santa Monica, Calif. People were seen mingling and cooling off over Labor Day weekend despite the global pandemic. (Johaira Dilauro / The Corsair)
Eric Hester of Weiser Farms at the Santa Monica Farmers Market on Sept. 5 helping a customer pick out their famous "magic potatoes". (Johaira Dilauro / The Corsair)
September
Johaira Dilauro | Staff Writer
Like every month in the year 2020, September hit differently: the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the rush to nominate a replacement during a COVID-19 super spreader event at the Rose Garden, the yearning to celebrate Labor Day, the start of the first fully-virtual school year, and the most bizarre presidential debate in our nation’s history. The chaos continued and the moments we took for granted in the past were very deeply felt in September.
Labor Day on Sept. 7 was welcomed during a heatwave, and the previous day was the hottest on record in L.A. County, topping 121 degrees. With the West coast burning due to ongoing wildfires, San Francisco woke up to a dark orange painted sky, bringing with it very toxic air quality. On Sept. 10, the August Complex Wildfire became the most devastating fire in California’s history, destroying 471 acres (736 square miles).
On Sept. 18, Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed and the very next day Trump publicly vowed to swear in a new Supreme Court judge.
The Trump administration held a COVID-19 super spreader event at the Rose Garden on Sept. 26. The mostly maskless event was held as a celebration to officially nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Consequently, over 12 elected officials contracted COVID-19, including Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
To conclude the overwhelming anxiety of September, over 73 million people tuned in to the first Presidential Debate on Sept. 29. From the constant interruptions, snarky remarks and Trump's refusal to denounce white supremacy, it will go down in history as the most bizarre 90 minutes of any presidential debate.
Terrifying clowns strike a pose. Halloween in Georgetown Washington D.C. on Oct. 31. (Todd Wilkinson / The Corsair)
Due to COVID-19, the Dia de los Muertos festivals and public walking displays were significantly scaled back or moved online this year to keep people safe. Nov. 1, Placita Olvera, Los Angeles, Calif. (Silvia Curiel / The Corsair)
October
Allie Leeds | Culture Editor
Late in the evening of Oct. 1, President Donald Trump tweeted that he and first lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for COVID-19, starting off the month with a bang. This came after at least 18 people who had been in close proximity to the president also contracted the virus -- many of which were at a nomination event for Amy Comey Barrett just days before the positive test. The president went on to spend three days in the Walter Reed Medical Center, where he received an experimental antibody cocktail.
After the president’s positive COVID-19 test, the second Presidential Debate between him and former Vice President Joe Biden was cancelled. Despite Trump’s close contact to Vice President Mike Pence, the Vice Presidential debate between Pence and Senator Kamala Harris went on, after negative COVID-19 tests were confirmed from those involved. The debate, which was held on Oct. 7, featured hard hitting questions about COVID-19, race relations in America, the environment, and more. The standout moment from the debate, however, was the fly which sat on Vice President Pence’s hair for over two minutes without getting his attention.
Also on Oct. 7, the ex-police officer charged in George Floyd’s death was released on bail. Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd in Minneapolis in May, and his release from prison further enraged those seeking justice. On Oct. 11, over 100,000 took to the streets of Los Angeles to show their support for Armenia. The protest was sparked by the latest violent clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sept. 27, over the highly disputed Republic of Artsakh. Southern California has one of the largest Armenian populations.
For sports fans, there was celebration to be had throughout Los Angeles. The Lakers won the NBA champinship finals against the Miami Heat on Oct. 11. The Dodgers won the World Series on Oct. 27 after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game 7.
The month came to an end with a Halloween celebrated much differently than years past. Socially distanced drive-thru events popped up around the L.A. area, acting as an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, parties, or theme park celebrations.
November
Marcos Mackey-Darden | Staff Writer
November was a big month for everyone across the country, as the election loomed near and many were feeling the pressure of what was to come of the United States. As many went out to cast their votes on Nov. 3, the push to vote was extreme as many advocated to go out and ensure their future for the greater good. Four days after Election Day, Biden was projected to be the winner of the 2020 Presidential election. Pres. Trump still has yet to publicy concede.
The month progressed on and as the Thanksgiving holiday rolled around, many had virtual thanksgivings while others quarantined leading up to the day and got tested in order to spend time with immediate family.
With Los Angeles classified in the Purple Zone of California's Tier system for COVID-19 outbreaks, new restriction were put in place the day before Thanksgiving such as restaurants no longer being allowed to provide outdoor dining and relying on take out orders for income. In addition, a three week Safer-At-Home order began Nov. 30.
December
Carolyn Burt | Managing Editor
With much of December still ahead, it is predicted that Los Angeles will face another Shelter-In-Place order before the year is up due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. It is anticipated that residents will still travel for the upcoming holiday season featuring Christmas and New Years. Angelenos are being asked to stay home and opt for virtual hangouts rather than in person.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will be recieving over 327,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be distrubted in December.
