Activists passed out about a hundred copies of these letters in Spanish in San Cristobal during Day of the Dead. They set up a letter for our fallen comrades. Sali and Brad’s pictures were up with Subcomandante Pedro, Comandante Ramona, Andres Aubry, Digna Ochoa, Che Guevara, and many others.

Marcella “Sali” Grace Eiler

September 30, 1987 – September 15, 2008

Sali is loved and cherished as a daughter to Barbara Healy and John Eiler, a stepdaughter to Catherine Eiler, a sister to Claire Eiler, Cavan Telford, and Erin Telford.

Sali was a citizen of our planet. Sali believed that the earth and the animals and people who inhabit it have the right to grow and thrive, and deserve respect.

Sali was young, beautiful, had a powerful heart and a deep passion for justice.

- Sali supported animal rights, and fought against cruelty in animal experimentation.

- Sali worked with “Food Not Bombs” in a number of North American cities, recovering food and turning it into hot meals available to anyone. She believed food is a right, not a privilege.

- Sali worked with “Los Sobravivientes”, teaching English to Central American torture survivors who had come to live in Oregon.

- Sali worked with “Cascadia Forest Defenders” saving the last of the old growth tree forests in Oregon from logging.

- Sali contributed to “Indymedia”, a collective of independent media organizations and journalists offering grassroots coverage of news events in communities throughout the world.

- Sali worked with “No Mas Muertes”, a humanitarian movement that provides water, food and medical assistance to migrants walking across the Arizona desert.

- Sali worked with “CIPO-RFM”, a movement that promotes peaceful co-existance of autonomous, self sufficient communities and indigenous people, and defends the territorial, economic, social, political and cultural rights of those communities and individuals.

The brief outline above highlights issues that spoke to Sali. These are a piece of the whole. Sali was so much more. She was a singer, a banjo player, a dance teacher and performer, a band member of Cinzana, an accomplished artist in North America and Mexico. A wonderful cook and herbalist, a beloved daughter, sister and loyal friend to many. An inspiring humanitarian, a courageous woman of warmth, laughter and endless energy who believed anything was possible. Any change achievable. Any goal possible.

Marcella “Sali” Grace Eiler was raped and murdered on September 15, 2008. Our family and friends throughout North America and Mexico deeply mourn her loss. We feel the outpouring of love and support coming from Sali’s people in Oaxaca, in Mexico, and across North America. We appreciate all that you have done and will do in Sali’s memory.

* Justice must be served in Sali’s cruel and tragic death. *