\u201cA loss of any one of our Soldiers is a tragedy and it is no different in the death of Private Ana Basalduaruiz. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Ana,\u201d said Col. Christopher Dempsey, Commander, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, via the press report. \u201cWe have remained in constant contact with both parents of Private Basalduaruiz, and will continue to keep them updated.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the reports from Fort Hood officials, Private Basalduaruiz\u2019 mother, Alejandra Ruiz Zarco, in a statement to Telemundo News<\/a>, said her daughter told her and friends that she was being harassed by an Army superior and was a target of repeated sexual advances on base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zarco last talked to her daughter on March 8 at which Basalduaruiz told her she was \u201cvery sad, that she was going through very difficult things, that things were not as normal as she thought, that she couldn\u2019t tell me much, but that there was going to be a moment when we were going to be together and she could tell me everything,\u201d Zarco said to Telemundo in Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fort Hood officials have acknowledged the harassment allegations and are also investigating the claims. \u201cInformation related to any possible harassment will be addressed and investigated fully,\u201d officials said via the press report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in light of the recent allegations of harassment, civil rights groups are calling for an independent investigation. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), in a press release<\/a>, called for the F.B.I. to investigate the allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have already informed the Army that LULAC is demanding action and will not stand down until all the truth emerges about what happened,\u201d LULAC National President Domingo Garcia said via the release. \u201cWe are very disappointed and angry that the pattern of mistreatment and abuse is still pervasive at Ft. Hood, and we are demanding an immediate, full, and transparent investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basalduaruiz\u2019 death recalls the case of Vanessa Guillen who was murdered by Aaron David Robinson in 2020 after complaining of sexual harassment while stationed at Fort Hood. Guillen\u2019s death led to the \u201cI Am Vanessa Guillen\u201d Act which revamped investigations into military sexual assault and harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A further independent review panel castigated the leadership and climate at Fort Hood, stating it created a permissive environment for sexual assault and harassment. This led to the removal of 14 base leaders following Guillen\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the investigation into Basalduaruiz\u2019s death continues, it raises questions about sexual harassment and assault cases which are prevalent in the military, particularly towards women. A 2021 Department of Defense study showed that 8.4% of women and 1.5% of men experienced an incident of unwanted sexual contact within the year – the highest it has been in over a decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn addition, rates of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and workplace hostility increased for women throughout the active force,\u201d said Gilbert Cisneros, Jr., Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in a letter<\/a> to the Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/accent\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/157\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-22-at-1.52.18-AM-1024x885.png\")