Lillian Galedo, NNIRR In spite of all the accolades and places in the world that Eddie traveled to and institutions he confronted in pursuit of justice for immigrants, migrants and working class people, Eddie remained the humble, relatable, humorous, loveable guy from Corpus he always was; still very connected to his roots and homies across many decades. Am missing him and his movement building contributions immensely. Mónica Hernández, Southeast Immigrant Rights Network Eddie dedicated decades of his life to the labor movement as a union organizer, and when he retired, he was called to accompany the families of migrants searching for their loved ones missing in the Texas borderlands and to install life-saving water barrels across the migrants´ routes. This deeply spiritual labor of love, along with his grace, humility, resilience, solidarity, passion, humor and love of life is Eddie´s enduring gift to each of us as we strive to follow in his footsteps. Isabel Garcia, Coalición de Derechos Humanos Hay, Eddie, te nos fuíste! Almost from the moment I met you, you became part of my familía. For over 30 years, I was blessed to see your passion and commitment for full human rights, from the fight for worker rights and for racial justice, to fighting our government's horrific death strategy on our own border. Your establishment of the South Texas Human Rights was the epitome of your dedication to humanity. We carry you in our hearts and work. Eddie Presente! Cathi Tactaquin, Women In Migration Network Eddie did not draw a line between his humanitarian efforts and his pursuit of human rights for all migrants and migration justice. He brought his experiences as a labor organizer and as a border activist into national and global spaces, helping to put a spotlight on the cruel policies and injustices at borders. He chaired the Board at NNIRR when I was director and always provided good counsel and support, something not to be taken lightly. I think I’m still waiting for one of his random “on-the-road” calls – sometimes about serious and urgent issues, or just to catch up, or laugh, lightening the load just a bit. Alma Maquitico, NNIRR Eddie was a towering figure in the immigrant rights movement. His passing is a deep loss for humanitarian activism on the borderlands and for the global human rights community. Eddie represented hope for many families in Mexico and Central America searching for missing loved ones and was an inspiration for young human and immigrant rights activists in the region. Our condolences to his family and our deepest gratitude for his unquestionable commitment to human rights, immigrant rights and racial justice. In Solidarity, Alma Maquitico, Director NNIRR |
