Interpreting Protest: Deaf access to Extinction Rebellion

They likely took over your newsfeeds back in October, those ‘uncooperative crusties’ creating chaos in the centre of London: Extinction Rebellion. 

You probably know they are protesting about the Climate Emergency (the United Nations IPCC Report calculated we had just 12 years to save the Earth). You probably know they protest using peaceful civil disobedience rather than anger.

And you probably know that many of them (but by no means all) are willing to get arrested to bring attention to the urgent changes we all need to make. 

But do you know about the growing number of Deaf Rebels? Had you spotted the XR BSL in their purple hi-viz jackets? Had you noticed how Extinction Rebellion use BSL-inspired gestures — like Deaf applause?

Those gestures (Extinction Rebellion has adopted quite a few to make itself more accessible) come directly from BSL Rebels.

We’ve been there since the beginning, popping up in smaller protests all across the UK, and in the April International Rebellion. But it wasn’t until the October Uprising that we reached the kind of critical mass that permits clearer group communication and wider organizational reach.

Here’s just one example of how a movement like this grows: On 15th July 2019, Rebels placed a large pink boat on Bristol Bridge and declared the beginning of a 5 day protest.  Kyra had already been involved in the movement, but happened to be working nearby so she stopped to have a look. Jo was giving BSL interpretation of the speeches. Kyra approached her and offered to help. So, on Day 2, they both interpreted.

For the first three days there were no Deaf people, but they carried on anyway. On Day 4 a group of Deaf people arrived, having been told about the interpreters by workmates. By Day 5 there was a team of three interpreters and a group of engaged Deaf Rebels. This is how it works.  

So what else is there to know?

Extinction Rebellion (we call it XR for short) is a network organisation. It’s not led by any one person or group. Its decisions come directly from People’s Assemblies, where everyone helps to decide what should be done. It’s all just about showing up and getting involved.

The mantra is: This Is An Emergency And We Are All Crew. The ‘all in this together’ atmosphere feels like the old Deaf community, and XR BSL are working to make sure we don’t reproduce the divisions and hierarchies that have crept in to our contemporary deaf and interpreting worlds. There are no ‘clients’ here.

We also avoid clearly labeling ourselves with the word ‘interpreter’. There are two reasons for this. The first is that, since we are all volunteers, we don’t distinguish between ‘Interpreter’ and ‘CSW’. If something is happening and you are nearby, then you are the communication link. We work together and we support each other.

Jo became involved when, as a CODA, she invited her mother to the April Uprising. Since then, she has been hugely instrumental in setting up the XR BSL working group which sources communication access for talks, trainings and direct actions.  And it was Jo who coordinated ‘10 Rebel Signs’, helping us all communicate more inclusively on actions and in situations where silence is more effective, bringing some Deaf gain to the whole of XR.

By the time of the October Uprising, and with the help, love and passion of lots of Rebels, our ‘We Are All Crew’ site —originally based outside the Home Office — was 100% Deaf accessible throughout. And we were able to ally with Animal Rebellion, so Deaf Rebels could move between actions and protest sites.

As Gemma explains: 

When the opportunity arose to lead the BSL interpreter co-ordination for Animal Rebellion, I jumped at the chance. I had a month to get a team together and, thanks to guidance from Darren, got the ball rolling quickly. I managed to get a team of seven wonderful interpreters and we covered each day of the rebellion for the first 10 days. The Animal Rebellion Main Stage Coordinator made it possible for me to contact all the speakers to get preparation materials. The schedule was perfectly organized; with dates, times, locations, speakers and interpreters. It took a lot of my time and energy, but it came together surprisingly well in the end.

So what is it really like to interpret a Rebellion? Clara recalls: 

Beforehand I heard some interpreters talking as if it would be like interpreting a political rally.  Although some of it was like that, I knew it would involve more. No one knew how the police would behave and some of us were expecting a heavy hand. 

Gemma was “anxious as the tube approached the station, unsure if I would be able to get past the police block, and I really did not want to get arrested.” 

Such circumstances can affect the usual notion of interpreter role. For example, impartiality as we’ve come to understand it just can’t apply. Clara was: 

not just an interpreter… In my head I was also a Rebel – though my actions as a Rebel were limited by my interpreter role; I couldn’t get arrested, I was there as support rather than taking my own initiative on everything.

Despite what you might think, it’s easy NOT to get arrested. As Tom reports, “only people who chose to be arrested were arrested and if you didn’t want to be, then you could easily remove yourself.”

But arrest is always present, and can affect role in interesting ways. When the Police issue a ‘Section 14’ to ban protest in a given area, a Rebel can be held in breach of it only if they have been made aware of its existence. The rule amongst Rebels, then, is never to pass this information on to anyone else, so it was agreed we would not interpret for the Police. This is the second reason for not wearing an obvious ‘interpreter’ label:

When the Rebels set up camp in Parliament Square, this area had a Section 14 placed on it, and the Police came in heavy-handed, confiscating any unattended tents, removing belongings, and making arrests. The Police approached the Deaf Rebels to speak to them, so the interpreters stayed quiet and the Police presumed we were also Deaf. They couldn’t explain Section 14, so instead they handed us a very lengthy legal document —it was not Deaf-friendly in the slightest.

In many ways, the Rebellion offers a very positive working environment. Tom describes “an empowering and supporting environment and community atmosphere for 90% of the time.” This in itself can prove very emotional. Gemma remembers:

As I walked around the corner I was met with a wonderful sea of colour — an XR camp set up right outside Westminster Abbey. I had to bite my lip and take deep breaths to stop myself crying. 

Another XR BSL Rebel recalls:

The atmosphere was magical. We interpreted the chants, the songs, the mic checks, announcements, the conversations with fellow Rebels and passers-by. The Rebels marched passed the Home Office, Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square, and were warmly welcomed by waves and smiles from employees watching from their workplace windows. 

And XR offers all sorts of opportunities to pick up new skills; Non-Violent Direct Action training, and learning to deliver XR talks, for example. But in the midst of an Uprising you can’t always know whether your work is having any impact. For one BSL Rebel: 

A People’s Assembly took place to decide if Rebels wanted to remain camped where they were or move onto another site. This was the first time I’d seen a People’s Assembly in action and it was fantastic; the organisation of the crowd, and the methods used to draw conclusions were very structured and accessible. My co-worker and I interpreted and luckily this was caught on livestream, which enabled a Deaf Rebel to watch whilst he was at work.

Another “stood and interpreted the songs not knowing if any Deaf Rebels were nearby. To my delight, an XR interpreter came over, and a Deaf Rebel came over.” For another:  

When the Deaf Rebels went home I felt bereft and directionless.  At this point the interpreting changed, from primarily following the Deaf Rebels to being as visible as possible in order to catch the eye of any Deaf people passing or coming to join in.  That meant standing in Trafalgar Square doing any platform work going, interpreting workshops or, failing that, having a signed conversation with my co-worker. This was a good strategy which did attract Deaf people.

This kind of adaptability is crucial in such rapidly changing circumstances. As Ali reflects, “Multiple comms made keeping up with events tricky”, and the team needs to be constantly on its toes. When the carefully created ‘We Are All Crew’ site was closed by the Police: 

We moved on again, in solidarity, marching and singing all the way to Trafalgar Square; the only area in which the Police had agreed Rebels could reside. The original schedule of speakers and performers that was so wonderfully organized was no more. The interpreters had to go with the flow, interpreting any talks or trainings taking place, or going with Deaf Rebels to stalls, to people locked-on, and to interpret between the Rebels and the crowds.  

The constant disturbances can take their toll. One XR BSL Rebel records:

For the first two or three days I was buzzing with adrenaline, and didn’t want to stop. After our site was moved and the rain came it felt more difficult and my energy levels dropped.

This is tough physical and emotional work, and self-care skills become very important. For some:

 it meant early starts, being on site at 7am ahead of planned actions, while sites were taken, or actions mounted.

And an Uprising is breaking news on all your media so, unlike more regular interpreting assignments, it can be difficult to disengage. Clara felt: 

worried every night, when the Deaf Rebels were on their own – what if the Police moved in?  I stayed up until the small hours glued to my phone to get the latest on what was happening.  I couldn’t switch off; this was exhausting.

But then, just when you’re not sure how much longer you can last, the inevitable moment arrives. The Uprising ends, and life returns to normal:

That evening, I really did not want to leave. I wanted to stay and embrace the energy, selflessness and solidarity. On the train home I was once again overcome with emotion, a wonderful feeling that so many people had come together for the cause, all on the right side of history. 

For Tom, the Uprising was “overwhelmingly positive.” For others, being involved was “a life changing experience”, that was “truly wonderful.”  It was “marvellous meeting some fantastic Deaf Rebels and a great group of interpreters.”  

Now, whilst the Rebellion is dormant for the winter, we are continuing to build on the links that were forged at the barricades. We are growing our WhatsApp group and our regional outreach.  At the time of writing, our Facebook page has 400 likes; XR BSL Instagram has 320 followers; Animal Rebellion has 100 Facebook followers; we have a network of over 40 XR BSL facilitators on our database; Deaf Rebels are engaged in translating some of XR’s principal documents; and creating a climate glossary; and we are devising CPD training for interpreters who might want to become more actively involved.

If you’d like to join us*, if feel you have any particular skills or expertise to share, or if you’d like to arrange CPD training for your region or group, please do.

You can contact us at xr.bsl@protonmail.com, and animalrebellion.BSL@protonmail.com 

Meanwhile, we strongly encourage you to find your local XR group (via any search engine, or Facebook), and get involved. 

We have fewer than 12 years to save the Earth.  Scientists calculate it IS still possible. 

You WILL make a difference. 

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND WE ARE ALL CREW.

*This article has been compiled from accounts given by many members of XR BSL, only some of whom are named.