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wealthy farmers took over their land. Rigoberta’s father joined with other laborers to protest. They formed the United Peasant Committee, to organize petitions and demonstrations, asking for human rights. They were arrested and imprisoned many times. Rigoberta and her brother Petrocino joined in the protests. In 1979, Petrocino was kidnapped, tortured, and burned alive. He was just 16 years old. The next year, her father and 38 other protest leaders died in a mysterious fire. Many people blamed the army for starting it. Rigoberta’s mother was raped, then killed. Rigoberta knew that her life was also in danger. In 1982,

Words to Understand in This Chapter

asylum— a place of safety and refuge usually provided by a country for those seek- ing refugee status. discrimination— the act of treating people worse because they belong to a partic- ular group. human rights— the rights that are regarded by most societies as belonging to everyone, such as the rights to freedom, justice, and equality. indigenous— people who have lived in a country from earliest times, such as Australian Aborigines. Nobel Peace Prize— a prize given as the highest international recognition to a person, or persons, for work contributing to peace, or the improvement of human rights. racism— to discriminate against or attack a person, or a group of people, because of their skin color. refugee— someone who is seeking safety, especially from war or persecution, by going to a foreign country.

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Human Rights