Marla Ruzicka Memorial Service, Lakeport, Ca

Dear Friends of Marla and CIVIC,

It is with deep sadness and regret that I am writing to inform you that Marla died on Saturday at the age of 28 in a suicide bomb attack. Faiz, CIVIC's Iraq Country Director, was also killed. It is tragically ironic that two beautiful people who devoted their lives to helping innocent victims of war have now become them.

The attack occurred on the Baghdad Airport road as she traveled to visit an Iraqi child injured by a bomb, part of her daily work of identifying and supporting innocent victims of this war.

Only a few hours before her death, Marla sent me this photo of Harah. She was 3 months old when she was thrown from a vehicle just before it was destroyed by a U.S. rocket attack. Her entire family was killed. Hers just one example of the hundreds of lives Marla and Faiz touched with their heroic work.

Their deaths are profound losses not only for their family and friends, but for the entire world. There are precious few who have the courage to stand up and demand justice for all the victims of conflict wherever they may be. This troubled world cannot afford to lose people like them.

Marla overflowed with passion and had an incredible sense of obligation to help those less fortunate. She worked tirelessly to push the US military on its responsibility to keep a proper accounting of the consequences of military action on civilians in Iraq.

While her incredible passion and courage never faded, she was often torn between concern for her personal safety and a fervent desire to be in the field. She recently moved to New York City and was eager to establish a base after spending so many years living out of her suitcase and on the couches of friends, including mine.

While she was serious about her work, Marla never forgot to have fun and was always the life of the party. She had an incredible knack for making friends everywhere she went. Human rights workers, journalists and many others have been bolstered by her spirit and drive.

It is crucial that Marla and Faiz be commemorated and that their work continue. We will continue to shine a spotlight on innocent victims of war and ensure that their crucial work is continued. CIVIC will go on and we will need your support. Please make a donation and host or attend a vigil in Marla and Faiz's honor for victims of war around the world.

Thank you all for your support.

with love and peace,
April Pedersen
april@civicworldwide.org

http://www.civicworldwide.org/index.html