‘It’s like she’s my daughter’: After Vanessa Guillén’s killing, a California city reckons with the military

At the steps of city hall in Richmond, California, sit dozens of half-melted candles with images of the Virgin Mary. In front of the makeshift altar, small white tea lights spell out “Vanessa.” The display was erected on 6 July to commemorate the army specialist Vanessa Guillén, who had been sexually harassed by superiors at a base in Texas and was found murdered at the end of June. Hundreds of community members have gathered here every night to…