Standing in front of a mural honoring Spc. Vanessa Guillén at Houston’s Taqueria Del Sol on Wednesday, Trae Tha Truth gathered with family members of the slain Fort Hood soldier in the neighborhood where she grew up.
The Houston rapper, whose given name is Frazier Thompson III, presented Vanessa Guillén’s sisters, Mayra and Lupe Guillén, with a $30,000 check to help with expenses.
“It means a lot anytime you’re able to take the stress off somebody, even for a moment, knowing that they'll be going through this for a lifetime,” said the Houston rapper, “ I wanted to let them know they’re not by themselves.”
Vanessa Guillén's older sister, Mayra Guillén, said Thompson’s support has been unwavering since her sister's death. “Trae has been there for me and it means a lot.”
Lupe Guillén, Vanessa Guillén's younger sister, said she is grateful not only to Thompson but also to the countless people from around the globe who have reached out.
“We all have to stand together as a family," said Lupe Guillén. "It doesn’t matter if you’re blood. We're all brothers and sisters."
Thompson echoed Lupe Guillén’s remarks.
“No matter your race or anything else, we're in this together,” he said. ”We need to keep saying her name: Vanessa Guillén. We need to keep saying George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's names. This is going to be a long fight but we need to stand for what’s right.”
Vanessa Guillén, who originally disappeared April 22, was killed in a brutal attack before her body was dismembered and buried in a shallow grave near Fort Hood in late June.
The Army’s handling of its investigation on Vanessa Guillen’s death has been criticized by activists, lawmakers and civil rights groups. It's also led to a call for the reform of how to report sexual abuse and harassment in the military.
Vanessa Guillen’s killer shot and killed himself on July 1 as law enforcement tried confronting him, officials said.
Cecily Aguilar, charged with helping dispose of the body of murder victim Vanessa Guillén, is awaiting trial.
Lupe Guillén said a public memorial service for Vanessa Guillén will take place this Friday from noon to 8 p.m. at Houston's César Chávez High School, where Spc. Guillén attended.
A private funeral is scheduled for Saturday at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home.
“Everyone is welcome to attend on Friday. Face masks and social distancing will be required,” said Lupe Guillén. “We're asking for privacy on Saturday. It will just be for our family and close friends."
Source: Houston Chronicle
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