Fort Hood, Texas will memorialize Army specialist Vanessa Guillén days before the anniversary of her disappearance.
What We Know:
- On Monday afternoon, a private ceremony was held where Guillén’s family uncovered a gate and plaque named in Guillén’s honor. The gate leads to the military bases’ 3rd Cavalry Regiment “where [Guillén] lived day-to-day, where she served her country honorably,” advised Lt. Gen. Pat White, a commanding general of III Corps and Fort Hood.
- The event was followed by a news conference where Guillén’s younger sister, Lupe Guillén, spoke on the family’s behalf. She gestured towards the sidewalk where a year ago her family and supporters would hold posters fighting to find her missing sister.
“They should have cared when she was alive — not until now,” she said, holding back tears.
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Guillén was last seen alive on April 22nd, 2020 at Fort Hood. After an extensive amount of pressure from her family and the public, who spread her story online using #JusticeForVanessaGuillen, her disappearance was finally investigated. Her remains would later be found on the base in early June. Guillén had been murdered after being a victim of sexual violence.
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The family is still pushing to take legal actions against the 14 leaders who silenced Guillén from reporting her experiences with sexual harassment and violence. “We must investigate the chain of command and her leadership, because it’s impossible no one knew anything about the sexual harassment happening to her,” Lupe told reporters.
Guillén’s family and supporters have also created #IAmVanessaGuillen Week with in-person and online vigils honoring Vanessa and information on sexual violence and legislation.
