/ Modified feb 24, 2022 4:35 p.m.

6th Mexico journalist killed this year; leaders push back on U.S. concerns

Another journalist has been killed in Mexico, marking the sixth such murder so far this year. Now, the United States is calling for greater protections for journalists in Mexico.

ebrard marcelo VIEW LARGER Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard.
Rodrigo Cervantes/Fronteras Desk

Another journalist has been killed in Mexico, marking the sixth such murder so far this year. Now, the United States is calling for greater protections for journalists in Mexico.

The body of Michelle Perez Tadeo, a 29-year-old television sports host from the Mexican state of Veracruz, was found near Mexico City this week. It’s still unclear whether her murder — which has been called a femicide — was related to her work.

Still, her murder is the latest in a string of killings of journalists in Mexico so far this year

In response to the violence, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to Twitter on Tuesday to cite concerns over the dangers journalists face in Mexico.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reiterated those concerns Wednesday after Mexico’s president claimed Blinken was misinformed and that there would be no impunity for those responsible for violence against reporters.

"We’ve seen factually the threats that have been posed to journalists in Mexico," Psaki said during a press conference. "That is a concern that I think the Secretary of State was expressing on behalf of the United States about those abuses. So I think he was speaking to facts we’ve seen on the ground.”

But Mexican leaders continue to push back. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard sent a letter to Blinken on Wednesday highlighting Mexico’s investigations into recent killings, and suggesting that guns trafficked from the U.S. could have been used to murder journalists.

“I am sharing with you information that perhaps you didn’t know, and I reiterate our willingness to work with your government, with respect for the sovereignty of both countries, to advance the security of our peoples," Ebrard wrote.

Fronteras Desk
Fronteras Desk is a KJZZ project covering important stories in an expanse stretching from Northern Arizona deep into northwestern Mexico.
MORE: Mexico, News
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona