Dear Rubén

A letter to my friend and comrade

It’s one year today since my friend and comrade and brother Rubén Castilla Herrera passed away — a pillar of love and strength and organizing in the Columbus activist community.

If you don’t know Rubén, maybe it will tell you something that the local paper, The Columbus Dispatch, wrote an article about him, and covered the march that followed his memorial service on April 13, 2019.

Indeed, the Dispatch complied a wonderful video of the march — which will tell you a lot about Rubén and his impact.

Because of family obligations, I wasn’t able to make the memorial or the march. But I had the chance to write something for it, and my friend and comrade Erin Upchurch beautifully read it there, as captured in the video.

Here is the full text of my letter to Rubén. With some photos and video dropped in.

Which says everything I need to say right now.

Dear Rubén,

I wish you could see all the people who have gathered today, to celebrate your life.

I wish you could see all of us who have been inspired by you, moved by you, fed by you, educated by you, loved by you.