Violence against journalists in Mexico has increased significantly so far this year. On Tuesday morning, June 29, journalist Antonio de la Cruz, a reporter for the newspaper El Expreso, was murdered in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. This brings to 12 the number of journalists who have been violently deprived of their lives so far in 2022.
The journalist, who had worked for the newspaper Expreso for more than 15 years, was shot dead as he left his home on Puerta de la Luna Street in the Puerta de Tamatán neighborhood in Ciudad Victoria.
So it is The same media reported for which Antonio worked, who said that his daughter was also injured and is in serious condition in the hospital, while his wife was unharmed.
"In light of this new act of violence, the publishing group Expreso-La Razón demands that authorities at all levels do justice," the media outlet stated.
The cowardly crime was perpetrated by men on a motorcycle, who repeatedly fired at the reporter who was in his vehicle with his daughter and wife.
For its part, the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office reported that the proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the Homologated Protocol for the Investigation of Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression. The Specialized Unit for the Investigation of Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression, Human Rights and Vulnerable Groups also took note.
Antonio de la Cruz became the twelfth journalist to be murdered this year, along with Yesenia Mollinedo, director of the El Veraz website, and reporter Johana García from the same outlet, who were shot dead in May.
These murders are in addition to those of Lourdes Maldonado and Margarito Martinez in Tijuana, Baja California; Heber Lopez Cruz in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca; Juan Carlos Muniz in Fresnillo, Zacatecas; Jorge Camero Zazueta in Empalme, Sonora; Roberto Toledo in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; Jose Luis Gamboa in Veracruz, Veracruz; Armando Linares in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; and Luis Enrique Ramirez in Culiacan, Sinaloa.
From this media outlet located in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, we deeply condemn the murders of Mexican journalists who seek to freely and safely carry out their journalistic work in Mexico, while, as fellow citizens, we demand that the government clarify, resolve and exercise the full weight of the law against those who took the lives of these and all the murdered journalists.
We also demand that all reporters, photographers, cameramen, writers, editors and other journalistic positions be protected by the State, because, although our media is focused on the Latino community in California, we have collaborators who carry out their work in Mexico and today their integrity is compromised.
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