A Houston publish workplace will quickly bear the identify of a lady who turned the face of the #MeToo motion for the U.S. armed providers.
The Vanessa Guillén Put up Workplace Constructing in southeast Houston will honor the Army personal first-class who disappeared in April 2020 from Fort Hood, Texas, shortly after telling her household she was being sexually harassed by a noncommissioned officer. She was discovered lifeless two months later, killed by a fellow soldier over a separate incident.
Her demise, together with accounts from different troopers who stated they’d been harassed however their complaints about their remedy had not been taken severely, sparked a large investigation into command local weather at Fort Hood — one which concluded that sexual assault and harassment reviews had been dismissed or ignored by leaders.
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The case additionally galvanized an ongoing effort by members of the U.S. Senate and Home to take away selections to prosecute sexual assault and harassment from the chain of command.
“[This] modified laws that won’t solely assist hundreds of victims however give voice to folks, like my sister, who for many years suffered in silence,” Mayra Guillén, Vanessa’s youthful sister, stated throughout a press convention in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 22.
Laws to rename the Park Place Put up Workplace at 5302 Galveston Street for Guillén was pushed by Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas. The invoice handed the Senate and the Home earlier this month and was forwarded Wednesday to President Joe Biden for his signature.
“Vanessa was a robust and impressive younger lady who was taken from her household and Houston a lot too quickly. Nonetheless, due to her, numerous veterans and repair members can stay with out worry. I hope this publish workplace renaming brings some consolation to Vanessa’s household and family members,” Garcia stated in a press release after Home passage Dec. 21.
“By renaming a Houston publish workplace after this fallen soldier, we commemorate Vanessa’s life, legacy, and repair to our nice nation,” Cruz stated in June whereas introducing the laws.
“Guillén’s sacrifice was the catalyst that result in the Army implementing significant change addressing the far too pervasive downside of sexual assault and harassment throughout the complete service.”
The publish workplace is a couple of blocks from Guillén’s residence and former highschool the place she performed soccer and was within the prime 15% of her class. The small arms and artillery repairer was posthumously promoted to specialist on July 1, 2020.
“This brings some pleasure and spirit to folks throughout the holidays to see our service members being honored akin to Vanessa for his or her dedication to serving our nation,” stated Natalie Khawam, the Guillén household’s lawyer, throughout a press convention following the vote.
A documentary about Guillén’s life and aftermath of her demise premiered in November on Netflix, making its debut within the streaming platform’s Prime 10 listing.
Director Christy Wegener informed Navy.com that Guillén’s household drove the modifications that wanted to happen inside the U.S. navy justice system.
“You noticed a household and human beings actually struggling and pleading for assist to seek out their liked one. I feel that resonated with everybody. The Guilléns had been simply so adept at expressing themselves and being vocal and open about their feelings. That is why their marketing campaign took maintain,” Wegener stated.
– Patricia Kime may be reached at Patricia.Kime@Navy.com. Observe her on Twitter @patriciakime.
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