Judge Brian Hill

Re: People v. Mireille Miller-Young

SC #1444617

Dear Judge Hill,
My name is Sarah Rivera; I am one of the students who was involved in the demonstration
concerned in the case against Ms. Miller-Young. I am writing to you in lieu of making a statement at the
sentencing to give you my perspective on the case.
On the day in question, a group of my fellow students and I went to the UCSB campus to try
speak to students concerning respect for human life, especially the unborn. We came to the campus
with some signs, which we set up in a designated free speech zone, and were handing out pro-life
literature and starting up conversations with students walking by. Before the arrival of Ms. Miller-
Young, everything seemed to be going smoothly; we had handed out a lot of pamphlets, and several of
us had started up conversations with students who seemed more interested in what we were saying.
Many of them disagreed with us, but the conversations were peaceful and friendly.
At the time when Ms. Miller-Young approached us, I was holding one of the large signs that we
had brought with us. She came over after one of the other girls tried to give her a pamphlet, and began
speaking very angrily to both of us, shouting, interrupting us, and using profanities when we tried to talk
to her. A crowd began to form because of her antagonism toward us, and she began inciting them to
tell us to leave and take away our signs. After a few minutes of this, she came up to me and grabbed the
sign out of my hands. I resisted a little, but I was scared and let her take the sign after a small struggle.
She and some of the students who had gathered around carried it away. I was too scared and shaken up
to follow, but I know from the other girls who did follow that she continued to struggle with those of us
who were trying to get the sign back, and later proceeded to destroy our sign.
I was extremely upset by this incident, and by Ms. Miller-Youngs behavior. I do not think it is
right for someone who professes to be a feminist and who is responsible for the education of young
people to deny a group predominantly made up of young women the right to voice their opinions simply
because they are not in agreement with her own. I hope that the sentence and result of this case will
help Ms. Miller-Young to see this, and that her action in this incident was unacceptable.
Thank you very much for your consideration. I hope this statement will be helpful to you in the
sentencing of this case.

Sincerely,
Sarah Rivera