Biography
Kimberly Rivera (born c. 1982) is an American Iraq War resister and former U.S. Army Private First Class. After serving roughly a year in the Army and deploying to Iraq, she went AWOL (absent without leave) in February 2007, citing moral and religious objections to the Iraq War and her participation in it. She fled to Canada, becoming the first female U.S. military deserter to seek refuge there. Amnesty International designated her a prisoner of conscience in recognition of her conscientious objection to war.
In September 2012, Canadian authorities deported Rivera back to the United States, where she pleaded guilty to desertion. She received a bad-conduct discharge from the U.S. Army and was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. Her case drew international attention from peace activists and human rights groups who opposed the prosecution of conscientious objectors.
