Candlelight Vigil Held In Belleville For Vanessa Guillen

BELLEVILLE, NJ — An emotional candlelight vigil for Vanessa Guillen took place in Belleville on Monday night, with community members rallying against sexual harassment in the U.S. military.

Guillen, a 20-year-old Army specialist, was murdered in April by a fellow soldier stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, authorities have said. Both male and female soldiers at Fort Hood have since come forth with allegations that there is a longstanding culture of sexual harassment and bullying at the military post.

Guillen’s death has galvanized protests and vigils across the nation. One such vigil took place in Belleville at the Veteran’s Memorial on Union Avenue.

With several local officials and dozens of mourners in attendance, Belleville’s Lucy Del Gaudio, who served eight years in the Army, spoke about the need to give a voice to others who may be in the same shoes as Guillen.

Del Gaudio, a military sexual trauma survivor herself, testified before Congress in July to push for legislative reforms in the wake of Guillen’s death.

Although Guillen was stationed more than a thousand miles away at Fort Hood in her native Texas, Del Gaudio said it was appropriate to have a vigil in Belleville because her death connects with so many: the Latino community, military families and victims of abuse and violence.

• See related article: Rep. Mikie Sherrill Wants Change After Death Of Vanessa Guillen

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