Green Party of California mourns the loss of "activist's activist" Marla Ruzicka in Iraq

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Monday, April 18, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Kevin McKeown, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-393-3639,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SAN FRANCISCO (April 18, 2005) – The Green Party of California Monday expressed deep sorrow in the loss of longtime human rights activist and Green Party member Marla Ruzicka, who died tragically in Iraq Saturday in a car bomb blast.

Ms. Ruzicka, who was from Lakeport, California, was the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), which negotiated with the U.S. government for monies for civilian victims of the war in Iraq. She was in Iraq most recently to conduct door-to-door surveys to determine the number of civilian casualties in the war.

"Those of us who knew Marla personally, and there are many of those, will never forget this incredible woman, or the remarkable effect she had on all our lives in the short time that she was among us," said Michael Wyman, state Green Party treasurer.

"Marla was an activist's activist, impressing us all with her energy and forcing us all to work that much harder just to keep up with her. She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her, and to be touched by her incomparable energy and commitment," he added.

"Losing Marla is a sobering shock," said Santa Monica City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, who worked with Ruzicka on the Green Party of California's 2000 Senatorial campaign.

"In a war that has ended too many young lives, Marla's death is a double tragedy because the only reason she was there was to identify and help civilian victims," he added.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org