Accident Details and Victims
On Saturday, May 17th, the Mexican Navy’s training ship Cuauhtémoc collided with a structure of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and leaving at least 22 people injured, with 11 reported in critical condition.
The deceased were identified as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez from Veracruz and marine Adal Jair Marcos, originally from Oaxaca but residing in Puebla. The ship was on a formation navigation trip following a four-day stopover in Manhattan when the incident occurred.
Government Response and Political Context
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that the federal government, through the Mexican Navy (Semar) and the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE), was addressing the accident in coordination with local authorities and the US government. She confirmed that the injured were improving.
“We regret that this is being used politically. It was an accident. We have two people who lost their lives, and what we need to do is show solidarity and wait for the results,” Sheinbaum stated, emphasizing not to politicize the incident.
She also clarified that the causes of the accident remain unclear: “We cannot know until the investigation is complete.”
Reactions from Mexican and US Officials
- Claudia Sheinbaum: Mexico’s president, urging solidarity and avoiding politicization of the tragedy.
- Ronald Johnson: US Ambassador to Mexico, expressing condolences for the lost cadets.
- Luisa María Alcalde: Morena’s national president, calling for unity instead of political advantage.
- Rocío Nahle: Veracruz’s governor, mourning the loss of cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.
Political Proselytizing on the Ship
Four Morena supporters used the Cuauhtémoc as a platform to promote candidates for Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) just 15 days before the country’s first judicial election on June 1st. They encouraged citizen participation in the voting process.
In videos shared via the @morena_ny1 account on social media, supporters addressed Mexican citizens in New York and urged them to vote for Lenia Batres, César Mario Gutiérrez Priego, and Isaac de Paz on June 1st.
Controversy and Criticism
Senator Marko Cortés (PAN) demanded that the Mexican Armed Forces act institutionally and protect the institutions they represent, avoiding morenista politicking.
“Mexico deserves a timely explanation and sanction for those responsible for the creation of proselytizing videos in support of candidates for ministers, judges, and magistrates on the Navy’s ship,” Cortés wrote on social media.
