Prominent Immigrant Advocate’s Grave Remains Unmarked

A little more than a year ago, I wrote an obituary about Roberto Martinez, the well-known and oft-controversial local activist who made his career as an advocate for immigrants’ rights in San Diego.

Today, the North County Times reports that despite his decades-long prominence within San Diego’s human and immigrant rights community, Martinez’ grave does not yet have a headstone because his family hasn’t been able to afford one.

Christian Ramirez, who followed in Martinez’ footsteps as San Diego director of the American Friends Service Committee, said he and others who wanted to visit the grave on the one-year anniversary of his former mentor’s death couldn’t find it because it is unmarked.

I found it interesting that friends drew parallels between Martinez’s grave and the graves of countless unidentified migrants who’ve died trying to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Friends and family have started raising money to help his wife, Yolanda, pay for a headstone.

To help, you can write to Yolanda Martinez at: P.O. Box 86598, San Diego, Calif., 92138.

Please contact Adrian Florido directly at adrian.florido@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.325.0528. Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/adrianflorido.