Jayapal Statement On The Passing Of David Ayala-Zamora

SEATTLE, WA – Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement on the passing of David Ayala Zamora, former Organizing Director at OneAmerica and Field Director on the Pramila For Congress Campaign:

“Last night, David Ayala-Zamora passed away. As a union organizer and immigrant rights organizer, David was a true champion for justice. His early experiences being tortured in El Salvador shaped the core of his character and he brought that strength and resilience to everything he did. I was proud to have David serve as the Organizing Director at OneAmerica, where he helped build our statewide organizing network using the Latin American concept of “base groups” to expand our presence in places from Skagit County to Yakima to Vancouver. Later, when I decided to run for Congress in 2016, David left his job at Working Washington to run the field program for my campaign, overseeing an operation of six organizers and over 1,000 volunteers that knocked on 120,000 doors and made over 240,000 phone calls to help elect me.

“In addition to OneAmerica and the Pramila For Congress Campaign, David worked for many years at SEIU in Portland and Seattle, and at Working Washington, helping to organize low-wage workers and bring justice to the workplace. He loved to dance and brought joy and resolve to every workplace. He was a husband to a strong wife, and the proud father of a son and two daughters. David described being tortured as ‘the best experience in my life. Being tortured is like running a marathon. It taught me how committed I am in the struggle for justice. And it has fortified me in some ways, because you learn how much capacity you have in this body.’

“I send my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and mourn with you. A light has gone from our world, but David’s legacy shines brightly with all those he touched and all the movements he helped build. Rest In Peace, my friend, my brother in the movement for justice.”

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