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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens
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View as web page:
[link removed]
August 14, 2023
Contact: David Cruz - (818) 689-9991 Mobile
[email protected]
LULAC SAYS SENTENCING IN VANESSA GUILLEN MURDER IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD
JUSTICE
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Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Fate of Cecily
Aguilar Helps Community Heal and May Protect Other Servicemembers
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) said the
30-year sentencing of Cecily Aguilar in connection with the brutal killing of
Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen in 2022 finally brings closure to one crucial
phase of justice. "Nothing will ever replace the pain and loss the Guillen family
has suffered by Vanessa's tragic murder," says Domingo Garcia, LULAC National
President. "What this sentence represents is a victory of our community standing
together and seeing this process through to its end. Because of the fight we
undertook after Vanessa's death, LULAC can say we have the Vanessa Guillen Act
that will protect generations of other servicemembers from falling victim to
military sexual assault or worse. It is a bittersweet moment, and we will not
stop any time that crimes are committed against our Latino men and women in
military uniform," added Garcia.
In November, Aguilar pleaded guilty to one count of being an accessory after the
fact and three counts of making false statements. She faced a maximum sentence of
30 years and a $1 million fine. Aguilar is the only person charged in Vanessa's
murder. She previously admitted to helping her boyfriend, Aaron Robinson,
dismember Vanessa's body before burying her remains in shallow graves along the
Leon River. Guillen's suspected killer, Robinson, killed himself before her body
was found. Court documents say that Robinson told Aguilar he repeatedly
"bludgeoned" Vanessa in the head with a hammer at Fort Hood and that she died
from the wounds. The documents say he hid her body in a large box, which he and
Aguilar later tried to dismember and burn.
"There are no winners in this story," says Analuisa Tapia, the LULAC leader who
organized community protest vigils outside Ft. Cavazos every Friday for weeks
while the Army was silent on Vanessa's disappearance in April 2022. Her remains
were found on June 30, two months later. "What we have been seeking isn't
vengeance but justice so that this never happens again, like what Vanessa went
through. She was a victim multiple times because the Army did not protect her or
listen to her family's pleas for help when Vanessa went missing. She even said
she was missing without authorization or AWOL. Perhaps now, we can begin to let
Vanessa rest in peace and power that her death has brought us to a better place
for others," says Tapia.
The Vanessa Guillen Act is the law that bypasses commanders by requiring them to
request independent investigations within 72 hours of receiving the complaint and
to forward the complaint to the next superior office in the chain of command.
This act goes beyond addressing the primary offense and delves into the secondary
injury of retaliation against the person lodging the initial complaint of a
sex-related crime. Retaliation has manifested in various forms, including social
ostracization, name-calling, shunning, and professional repercussions such as
work-related punishments or unfair performance evaluations.
Domingo Garcia affirms, "The Vanessa Guillen Act is a testament to the power of
collective action and our community's commitment to ensuring that our
servicemembers are safe, respected, and protected. This act is a critical step
towards dismantling the culture of silence that has allowed sexual harassment and
assault to persist within the military ranks." LULAC acknowledges the progress
made with Cecily Aguilar's sentencing, recognizing it as an essential milestone
toward justice for Vanessa Guillen and her family. The organization reiterates
its dedication to pursuing justice for victims of sexual assault and harassment
within the military, advocating for accountability, prevention, and cultural
change.
# # #
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000
councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and
advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of
today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .
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