In an interview conducted on the eve of her court-martial, Rivera said, " When I saw the little girl [in Iraq] shaking in fear, in fear of me, because of my uniform, I couldn't fathom what she had been through and all I saw was my little girl and I just wanted to hold her and comfort her. But I knew I couldn't. It broke my heart. I am against hurting anyone" I would harm myself first. I felt this also made me a liability to my unit and I could not let me be a reason for anyone to be harmed---so I left" Even though I did not fill out the official application to obtain conscientious objector status, I consider myself a conscientious objector to all war."
On April 29, 2013, PFC Rivera pled to charges of desertion. She was sentenced by the military judge to fourt een months in prison, loss of rank and pay, and a dishonorable discharge; thanks to a pre-trial agreement her sentence was reduced to an actual sentence to ten months of co nfinement and a bad-conduct discharge.
Kimberly Rivera has been recognized by Amnesty International as a "prisoner of conscience." She is the mother of four children, ages 11, 9, 4 and 2.
Kimberly Rivera's request for clemency was accompanied by 495 letters of support, written by family members, friends, as well as members of Amn esty International from 19 countries.
" We have many organizations to thank for the outpouring of support for Kimberly Rivera, including Amnesty International, Courage to Resist, the War Resisters Support Campaign of Canada, Veterans for Peace and Coffee Strong," said James M. Branum, civilian defense attorney for PFC Rivera. "We also want to recognize the tireless efforts of local supporters in Colorado Springs and San Diego who have taken the time to visit Kim in prison as well as to provide important support to Kim's family in her absence."
While the official clemency request is now complete, supporters of PFC Rivera are still encouraged to continue to speak out on her behalf. Letters in support of PFC Rivera's clemency request can be sent directly to:
Brigadier General Michael A. Bills
c/o
Fort Carson Public
Affairs Office
1626
Ellis Street
Suite
200, Building 1118
Fort
Carson, CO 80913
(fax: 1- 719-526-1021)
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