The Guardian: Kristin Urquiza Delivers Powerful DNC Address on Father's COVID Death

On August 17, 2020, Marked by COVID Co-Founder Kristin Urquiza delivered a speech on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention that became one of the defining moments of the event. Kristin told the story of her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, a 65-year-old Trump supporter who died from COVID-19 on June 30, 2020, after trusting political leaders who said it was safe to resume normal activities. The Guardian was among dozens of major outlets—including CNN, The New York Times, ABC News, and Fox News—that highlighted the address as one of the evening's most powerful moments.

The speech built on the national attention Kristin had received after publishing her father's obituary in the Arizona Republic in July 2020 and an op-ed in The Washington Post. Together, these moments helped launch Marked by COVID into the national spotlight and established the organization's mission of demanding accountability and honoring those lost to the pandemic. Read the full article in The Guardian.