Vanessa Guillen: Petition seeking justice for 20-year-old 'murdered soldier' gets 200k signatures
Latest reports suggest that the skeletal remains of the 20-year-old US soldier Vanessa Guillen were found near the Army installation in Texas, as her sudden disappearance, under mysterious circumstances continues to haunt many. Guillen had reportedly informed her family prior that she was being sexually harassed by one of her sergeants at Fort Hood. When her mother urged her to bring it to the notice of the higher authorities, Guillen assured her that she would take care of it herself. She was last seen in a parking lot on April 22, hours before her parents reported that she was missing. While her family has called for a congressional inquiry into the Army’s response to Guillen’s missing case, a large number of people are demanding justice for the US soldier through a petition on the Change.org, which has already received over 205,800 signatures and counting.
The petition states, “THE USA ARMY IN FORT HOOD, TX NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MURDERED SOLDIER VANESSA GUILLEN. THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE EVERY SOLDIER IS ACCOUNTED FOR! NOT ONLY ONE BODY HAS BEEN FOUND BUT MULTIPLE, IF THEY KNOW THERE IS MORE SOLDIERS MISSING THEIR SEARCH SHOULDN'T HALT. KEEP LOOKING IF PEOPLE ARE MISSING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEY WERE ACTIVE YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP LOOKING!!! “
It also stresses that the US government is answerable to many families who have lost their loved ones while serving the Army or have gone missing leaving no trace. “This is a disgrace, not only to U.S. families but to these soldiers giving their all for a country that has turned their back on them!!! I SAY NO MORE!!!! FIND ALL MISSING SOLDIERS, GIVE THEIR FAMILIES WHAT THEY DESERVE!"
Meanwhile, Twitter users are using the hashtag #justiceforguillen to get more signatures for the petition, while extending their support to Guillen’s family. While one user wrote, “Every single “leader” in PFC Guillen’s support chain should be relieved for negligence. @USArmy failed this young Soldier and others who have gone missing, died, and have openly shared what goes on around @forthood. I’m so sorry, Soldier. You deserved better. #JusticeForGuillen”
“my heart literally dropped at the headline. i had to take a minute. my head is f*cking spinning. this was NOT a coincidence, this was NOT by accident. she spoke up about being assaulted and she was murdered and thrown in a shallow f*cking grave. #JusticeforGuillen” wrote another.