When the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, eight men who were working on the bridge at the time were plunged into the cold waters of the Patapsco River. Two of those men were recovered alive, six were not. As TRNN previously reported, all existing evidence points to the fact that these workers — who were working for a non-union contractor, Brawner Builders, filling potholes on the bridge — did not receive any warning from emergency dispatch that the shipping vessel Dali was about to plow into the bridge.
As Baltimore reels from the shock of the bridge collapse, as investigations begin into the root causes of the accident, and as we begin to take stock of the seismic economic and potential environmental impacts that this catastrophic accident will have, the families of the six workers who died are mourning an incalculable loss. As Clara Longo de Frietas writes at The Baltimore Banner, “All of the men confirmed or presumed to be dead had emigrated from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador or Mexico. They were Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35; Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26; Miguel Luna, 49; Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 38; Jose Mynor Lopez, 35; and one as-yet-unnamed man… All of them came to Baltimore for a better life.”
TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez sat down with a panel of community and immigrant justice organizers and members of Baltimore’s Latino/Latine community to discuss those efforts, what we know about the men who were working on that bridge, and what this tragedy tells us about the plight of immigrant workers in Baltimore and around the U.S.
Click below for the podcast.
Key Bridge Collapse Support
Key Bridge Emergency Response Fund: This fundraiser is organized by the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Baltimore Civic Fund.
Email: rachel@baltimorecivicfund.org to make larger one-time or ongoing donations.
Key Bridge Emergency Response Fund
Support the Key Bridge Emergency Response Fund: To support those affected, Maryland Governor Wes Moore is directing contributions to the Key Bridge Emergency Response Fund. Every dollar will help bring immediate relief to the families who lost their loved ones in the aftermath of the collapse.
988
Free, confidential suicide and mental health crisis helpline.
Dial: 988
JHU Centro Sol
Provides mental health support groups for adults, community health education, youth mentorship, and public health research.
5200 Eastern Ave., Mason F. Lord Building, Suite 4200
centrosol@jhmi.edu
410-550-1129
Pro Bono Counseling
Volunteers can connect callers with licensed counselors and other resources for longer-term mental health care. Their WARMLine has English and Spanish-speaking mental health specialists Mon- Fri 10 am to 8 pm; Sat & Sun 10 am to 6 pm
5900 Metro Drive, Baltimore, MD
WARMLine: 410-598-0234
Intercultural Counseling Connection
A free referral network of mental health professionals who provide counseling to asylum seekers, refugees, and other forced migrants in the Baltimore area. For services, fill out a therapy referral form on their website (in English) and indicate the primary language on the form.
intercultural.connect@gmail.com
410-632-6701
Unemployment Insurance Hotline
A hotline for workers impacted by the bridge collapse.
667-930-5989
United Way of Central Maryland
The United Way of Central Maryland is raising money for mid- and long-range support for those affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. You can also find information about support services by calling their 211 United Way Helpline. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in multiple languages.
U.S. Small Business Association Business Recovery Centers
Businesses affected by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse are eligible for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster loans. Eligibility applies to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses, and private nonprofit organizations. The filing deadline for applications is December 30, 2024.
Unemployment Hotline
The Maryland Department of Labor has created an unemployment insurance hotline for workers affected by the Key Bridge collapse.
Call (667) 930-5989
Or file online in BEACON.
Key Bridge Collapse Debris Reporting Hotline
410-205-6625