July 13, 2020
Dear Members,
We write to express to you our heartbreak, anger, frustration, and overwhelming feeling of grief for United States Army Specialist (Spc.) Vanessa Guillén, her family, and loved ones.
Spc. Guillén went missing since April 22, 2020 until her remains were found on June 30. Spc. Guillén was murdered by another enlisted soldier on base in Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. Spc. Guillén was a 20-year-old Latina who committed her young life to protecting her country. Yet, various institutions failed to protect her, to hear her, and to see her.
Spc. Guillén’s disappearance did not make national headlines immediately. Her story went largely untold until Texas Representative Sylvia Garcia, actress Salma Hayek, and the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), joined the peaceful demonstrations and the #FindVanessaGuillen social media campaign. Before her disappearance and murder, Spc. Guillén confided in her family that she felt unsafe in Fort Hood due to sexual harassment and assault in the military.
Across the U.S. someone is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds.[1] We know sexual violence in the military is prevalent, and also often unreported.[2] In 2018, an estimated 24.2 percent of active duty women indicated experiencing sexual harassment, an increase from 2016.[3] Active duty women who experienced sexual harassment were at three times greater risk for sexual assault than those who did not.[4]
We also know sexual violence disproportionately impacts women of color, who are less likely to report it for various reasons, including fear of retaliation.[5] This is especially concerning when the ranks of the United States military have become more diverse over time.[6] Today, Latinxs are the fastest growing population in the military, accounting for up to 16% of all active-duty military.[7]
The above statistics and lived experiences are unacceptable. The East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association board stands in solidarity to speak out against sexual violence because silence is compliance.
We are contacting our local congressional representatives to demand an immediate, full and independent congressional investigation into Spc. Guillén’s workplace, disappearance, and murder. Join the call for action to demand justice for Vanessa Guillén. Please take a few minutes to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative now.
As beloved civil rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association Dolores Huerta once stated, “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” EBLRLA is here to do our part to change the world. We welcome your thoughts and ideas on what else we can do as an Association.
In solidarity,
EBLRLA Board
Ana Flores, President
Brian Amaya, Vice President
Manuel Ugarte Jr., Treasurer
Amelia Sandoval-Smith, Secretary
Elena Condes
María D. Domínguez
Monica Othón Espinosa
Steve Franco
Susana Gonzales
Elena Ramirez
Veronica Rios Reddick
April Smith
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