Marlee Matlin Urges Media to Stop “Cutting Out the Interpreters on Screen” While Reporting on Maine Mass Shooting

Abbey White
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Marlee Matlin is urging media to make its reporting accessible following the deaths of four people associated with the Deaf community during this week’s mass shooting in Maine.

The mass causality event, described as the worst mass killing in state history, involved two separate shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday. It resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people and the injury of 13 others. Local authorities have identified and are searching for a shooting suspect, according to the Associated Press, but have yet to release details about the victims.

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Media reports, however, have published the identities of victims as family members and one local organization serving the Deaf community have come forward after the mass shooting, which put the town and surrounding areas under a shelter-in-place advisory on Wednesday night. Responding to these reports, Oscar-winning actress Matlin is remembering the lives of individuals several outlets are reporting were in or associated with the Deaf community.

“Mass shootings are horrible but yesterday’s strikes the Deaf community everywhere, especially hard,” she wrote in a statement posted to her social media accounts on Thursday. “When mass shootings affect a tightly knit community like ours, it shows that NO ONE is immune to such horrific violence. My hurt hurts for everyone.”

Matlin noted that social media reports have identified nine Deaf people who were playing in a cornhole tournament in the bar that was attacked by the shooting suspect. ABC News is reporting that at least two victims, Steven Vozzella and Bill Brackett, were “part of a gathering of deaf people playing cornhole at Schemengees Bar & Grill.”

CBS News is also reporting that a third victim, Joshua Seal, was an ASL interpreter and a fourth, Bryan MacFarlane, was also participating in the cornhole tournament for deaf athletes. In addition to family statements, all four deaths were confirmed by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf to CBS.

As the actress remembered the victims, she also highlighted how media can leave members of the Deaf community out of key reporting and updates. “While we’re at it, please remind ALL broadcasters or anyone sharing the news to make sure that sign language interpreters standing at press conferences are fully visible.”

The actress went on to express her frustration over having to “remind the media again that we deserve access like anyone else and that the interpreter is there for a reason,” she wrote. “PLEASE do NOT cut us out of important news and information by cutting out the interpreters on screen.”

Following the mass shooting on Wednesday, members of Hollywood and those who hail from or have personal connections to Maine have spoken out, including Stephen King, Patrick Dempsey and Timothy Simons. John Mulaney and Pete Davidson also postponed comedy shows scheduled for this weekend in Maine, writing that they are “devastated by the events in Lewiston” and are “thinking of you all.”

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