Imperial, CA - Gina Marie Rivera of Imperial just published her first book called "fight back" safety and self defense tips.
Today she held her first book signing at the imperial public library. Gina Marie Rivera says she's on a mission to help people combat against sexual assault and sexual abuse and has published her first book called "fight back!"
"I really feel that I have a calling and my calling is to help others by advocating and raising awareness," says Rivera.
Rivera says she is a childhood over-comer of sexual abuse.
"It started from a very young age till the time I was 11. I was terrified to tell anyone let alone my mother and unfortunately it was a family member, my uncle and I'm just seeing too many cases , it's happening too much," says Rivera.
She says she fought back using her hands and was able to get herself out of the situation. But later in life she was confronted with another difficult situation while on the job working as a correctional officer for an all men's maximum security prison.
"My partner was being severely attack and assaulted by 2 male inmates and I went in to help him and those 2 inmates in turn came after me and attack and assaulted me. I had to fight for my life and partners life," says Rivera.
Rivera says fighting back is what saved her life and this is what her book is about. She wants people to be aware of abuse and wants to teach people how to defend themselves.
"Rape is the most underrated crime in America and I state that on my personal website and it's just not talked about enough and I think prevention is the best defense and knowledge is power," says Rivera.
All the proceeds of Gina Rivera's book will go towards a non-profit organization she founded last year called "light at the end of the tunnel.
For more info on Rivera and "Fight Back" - visit http://www.lightatendofthetunnel.org/
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