Support needed for Izzy & Ruth Encarnacion in court this Thursday, May 22nd at 9am in Fitchburg!

#ReuniteTheRiveras

May 21, 2025

Boston Broadside: “Izzy Rivera and Ruth Encarnacion will be together on May 22nd for the first time since they were arrested at gunpoint and taken away in handcuffs in front of their children on March 8th in Whitman, Texas. The Fitchburg, MA father and mother of five were jailed for traveling to Texas with their children to escape alleged relentless harassment by Fitchburg police and the Department of Children and Families(DCF). The agency was called in after Rivera refused a Vitamin K shot for their baby from a Fitchburg pediatrician who then reported them to DCF for “neglect.” On the advice of counsel, the parents have had no contact with one another since suffering the trauma of having their family pulled apart.

The couple will be in Fitchburg District Court for a public hearing this Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 9 AM.

Ruth and Izzy have been charged with 5 counts each of “kidnapping of minor by a relative.” Despite the fact that the charge is a misdemeanor, they were held in jail for weeks with $7,500 and $20,000 bails respectively, comparable to what is assigned to violent criminals. When the children were returned to Massachusetts from Texas, all 5 were examined and found to be unharmed and in good health. DCF has reportedly taken temporary custody of the children, and placed them with maternal relatives for the time being, apparently with no evidence of abuse, neglect or imminent danger, as is required to take such drastic action.

@official__doga @Wethepeopl2023 #ReuniteTheRiveras”