On September 11 2001, Madonna postponed a scheduled “Drowned World Tour” concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California due to terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.  The concert was re-scheduled for September 15.

“Violence begets violence,” Madonna told the Staples Center crowd of nearly 20,000 fans on September 14th, “and I don’t know about you, but I want to live a long and happy life. I want my kids to live a long and happy life.”

“What happened was horrible, but I’d like to think of it as a wake-up call. There’s terrorism every day all over the world.”

“Last night, we had a minute of prayer for everybody who died on Tuesday,” said the singer, who had traded her Scottish kilt for a skirt made from an American flag for her first costume of the evening. “Tonight I’d like to say a prayer for peace.” The crowd obliged her request for a moment of silence, but fans soon began chanting “U-S-A” as many waved American flags frantically.

Relenting, Madonna said, “OK, USA. But start looking at the whole world. I said it last night and I’ll say it again: If you want to change the world, change yourself.”

Madonna pledged that proceeds from her final shows would go to relief funds for victims of the attacks and their families.