Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Outrage Erupts Over Racist Cartoon Depicting Indian Crew In Aftermath

Despite receiving accolades from Baltimore and US authorities for their prompt response in issuing an early mayday call following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, sparking outrage is a ‘racist’ cartoon depicting Indians.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, lost power and collided with the pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, resulting in the bridge’s collapse within seconds and the tragic deaths of six individuals.

US President Joe Biden, Maryland governor Wes Moore, and other officials commended the Indian crew operating the ship for their swift emergency action, despite the vessel’s power loss, which enabled officials to halt traffic on the bridge, potentially saving numerous lives.

However, a cartoon released by US-based webcomic Foxford Comics has caused widespread outrage. Depicting unkempt men in loincloths appearing distressed while attempting to steer a ship, the cartoon is captioned ‘Last known recording from inside the Dali moments before impact.’

“Prejudice can cloud judgment to the point where one even ignores the fact that the Indian crew of the ship were the ones to take immediate action to save lives and minimize the disaster’s impact, something rightly acknowledged by POTUS Biden. Having said that this isn’t merely jumping to conclusions; but goes to show how Racism against Indians has been normalized,” a social media user commented

The image includes an audio recording of men exchanging expletives in a thick Indian accent, possibly taken from a viral road rage video involving individuals of Indian origin. The authenticity of the image is questioned, with a scan conducted on the AI content detection website isitAI.com suggesting that the image may be AI-generated.

The cartoon faced criticism from netizens and prompted a Community Notes warning when shared on social media platform X. The warning highlighted that the pilots were local knowledge experts, guiding the bridge team on rudder and engine settings and course to steer, citing an article from the Washington Post.

As authorities transitioned to the cleanup phase following the catastrophic bridge collapse over Baltimore harbor, cranes began arriving at the scene on Thursday. Extensive work is anticipated before the Port of Baltimore, a major US port, can reopen, with machinery deployed to clear the twisted steel remnants of the Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Patapsco River, where it obstructs the port’s entrance.