THE SCORCHED EARTH FILES

Carlos Rivera - North Ribbon Survivor

CARLOS RIVERA: "I WAS 16. THEY SHOT AT ME ANYWAY."

Name: Carlos Rivera
Age at incident: 16
Current age: 21
Family status: Parents survived, traveling alone now
Current status: Public speaker, checkpoint reform advocate

TESTIMONY (Recorded September 2057)

"I was 16 years old. Traveling with my parents. We had valid permits. We'd been approved for crossing. Everything was legal.

When Inspector Jean denied everyone, people started asking questions. I was standing with my parents, not saying anything. Just a scared kid waiting to see what would happen.

Then the shooting started. Bullets everywhere. People falling. Screaming. I ran. My parents ran. We were separated in the chaos. I thought they were dead. I thought I was going to die.

I hid behind a transport vehicle. Stayed there until the shooting stopped. When I came out, I found my parents - they'd survived too. But so many others didn't.

During questioning afterward, Authority investigators kept asking 'Who started the violence?' I said nobody started violence - you SHOT US. They said 'Travelers must have done something to threaten guards.'

I was 16 years old. Unarmed. Standing with my family. What threat was I?

I speak publicly now about what happened. The Authority hates it. I've been threatened. Harassed. Told to shut up. But I won't. I survived North Ribbon. I owe it to the 19 who didn't to tell the truth about Isabella Jean and what she did."

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