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Rock in Rio's sign language pumps up Brazil's deaf audience

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Rock in Rio's sign language pumps up Brazil's deaf audience
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Rock in Rio's sign language pumps up Brazil's deaf audience

2024-09-22 22:23 Last Updated At:22:31

Tens of thousands of Brazilians gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s mega-festival Rock in Rio on Friday, with many staking out spots of artificial grass all day to hear the headliner, Katy Perry. As her music keyed up, the enormous screens around the stage showed someone else in their bottom corners — a sign language interpreter.

The red-haired woman — with a chunky chain belt and a gem between her eyebrows — snapped her fingers and swayed, then pumped her arms as the beat gathered force.

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Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter, top right, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Kayblack at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter, top right, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Kayblack at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf people, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf people, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Katy Perry performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Katy Perry performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Colombian singer Karol G performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Colombian singer Karol G performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter Adriano Romin, bottom left, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter Adriano Romin, bottom left, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro perform at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro perform at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriana Lopes speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriana Lopes speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriano Romin speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriano Romin speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

“It seems like I’m on stage with her, in front of everyone,” the interpreter, Laísa Martins, told the Associated Press afterward. And as Katy Perry belted out her first verse, Martins started signing.

Rock in Rio is featuring sign language interpreters on its big screens for the first time in its 40-year history. It’s one of Latin America’s biggest festivals, drawing 100,000 people a day over seven days, and Sunday is its last day.

Inside a container backstage, interpreters sign in front of a green screen, with their images appearing above the stage to ensure deaf people across the thronging crowd can follow. Organizers also invite dozens of deaf people and their companions into a VIP area, right by the stage and close enough to speakers to feel the music pulsing through their bodies.

Interpreters have started popping up at festivals and concerts across Brazil in recent years. Their sudden ubiquity stems from Brazil’s ambitious 2015 inclusion law that sought to put the country at the global forefront of accessibility and, among other things, established that people with disabilities have the right to access cultural events while guaranteeing organizers provide means of doing so.

Some interpreters have drawn the spotlight themselves with their flair and flashy dress, gaining thousands of social media followers. Demand for them is surging so much that many start working before even finishing their education, said Lenildo Souza, president of the nationwide federation of sign language interpreters’ associations.

In Brazil, 2.3 million people are partially or completely deaf, according to the national statistics institute. But fewer than two-thirds of those who are completely deaf know how to use Brazilian sign language, and far less among those with some hearing. That’s because people opt for cochlear implants, learn only lip-reading, or go deaf later in life, said Souza.

As such, subtitles could be more effective at transmitting lyrics; Colombian singer Karol G sang so quickly at times Friday night that some words were lost on Amorim, who isn’t fluent in Spanish. But Amorim said interpreters convey more than just lyrics of songs, which they study intensively ahead of the show. They dance to the rhythm and pull faces to transmit the music’s energy and emotion — be it euphoria, rage, mystery or sensuality. That pumps up the crowd, deaf and hearing people alike.

“We express the whole idea of the song with our expressions, with our body. We want to express the entire musical context and use literally our entire body,” said Amorim, whose older sister is deaf. “Our feet are cut off there (on the screen), but during samba songs, we’re dancing samba. It’s just like that.”

Rock in Rio is already one of the most accessible festivals for deaf people in the world, said Thiago Amaral, its coordinator of plurality. Still, his team is working to innovate, and future editions could include vibrating platforms or a product similar to the vibrating vests they tested last year, he said. This year was also the first that Rock in Rio offered audio description earpieces for those with limited vision.

One of the deaf people at Rock in Rio on Friday was Henrique Miranda Martins, 24. His whole family is big into music, especially samba — his uncles play the four-string cavaquinho and pandeiro, a handheld frame drum — and he was always around it growing up. But Martins can hear little from his right ear and nothing from his left, so could never fully connect or participate.

Last year, he went to his first-ever concert with sign language interpreters, Coldplay, and it became his favorite band — even before its single whose official video features people signing. Then Martins went to the Lollapalooza festival in Sao Paulo. And last week he traveled from Sao Paulo to party with his parents at Rock in Rio.

He was most hyped to see Brazilian singer Iza on Friday, and waited to enter the special section by the stage. Iza started playing, just off to his left, but he faced the opposite direction, watching her on the screen with an interpreter in its corner. He danced and signed along with the interpreter, often in synchrony.

“I can follow the interpreter and I’m very happy to be able to feel the music and live this experience,” Martins said, speaking through an interpreter. “For deaf people, it’s very important. We can’t be outside this here. We need to be inside, with accessibility, together with everyone participating in everything. I’m very happy.”

Rock in Rio’s camera scanning the crowd found Martins vibing and locked in. For a few seconds, he was up on the big screen for everyone to see, smiling wide with his head thrown back and shaking both hands in the air — the sign for applause.

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter, top right, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Kayblack at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter, top right, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Kayblack at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf people, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf people, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Katy Perry performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Katy Perry performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Colombian singer Karol G performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Colombian singer Karol G performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Henrique Miranda da Silva Martins, 24, who is deaf, reacts during a performance at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter Adriano Romin, bottom left, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Sign language interpreter Adriano Romin, bottom left, translates on a big screen during a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro perform at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Diogo Soares Abdulmassih, 48, who is deaf, watches Brazilian singer Zeca Baleiro perform at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriana Lopes speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriana Lopes speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriano Romin speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Interpreter Adriano Romin speaks sign language in a studio inside a shipping container for a performance by Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

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Venezuelan opposition leader says his son-in-law has been kidnapped in Caracas

2025-01-08 06:19 Last Updated At:06:21

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Self-exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González, who claims to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s presidential election, said his son-in-law was kidnapped Tuesday in Venezuela's capital.

González, who was traveling in the United States, said Rafael Tudares was kidnapped while on his way to drop off González’s two grandchildren at school in Caracas.

In a post on X, González said “hooded men, dressed in black” intercepted the vehicle and loaded Tudares “into a gold-colored van.” He did not say what happened to his 6- and 7-year-old grandchildren.

The kidnapping happened despite a significant increase in police and military presence since New Year’s Day across Caracas ahead of Friday's swearing-in ceremony for Maduro, who the government says won a third term in the July election.

The government’s centralized press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

González, a retired diplomat, represented Venezuela’s Unitary Platform opposition coalition in the presidential election, which he and Maduro both claim to have won. The platform in a statement characterized Tudares' kidnapping as a “forced disappearance for political reasons.”

“We demand the immediate release of Rafael Tudares and all political prisoners, who are hostages of a regime that knows it is rejected by the vast majority of Venezuelans who spoke with the force of the vote (on July 28),” the coalition said in the statement.

González left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with an election-related investigation. In recent weeks, he has vowed to return to his homeland to take the oath of office.

González, 75, is touring the Americas to try to rally support for his effort to get Maduro out of office by Friday. That's when, by law, the South American country’s next presidential term begins. On Monday, González met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House as well as with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s designate to be his national security adviser once he is sworn in on Jan. 20.

González, who has been recognized by several governments including the U.S. as Venezuela's president-elect, has not explained how he plans to return to the troubled country or wrest power from Maduro, whose ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela controls all aspects of government.

González had never run for office before July. The Unitary Platform coalition selected him in April as a last-minute stand-in for opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado, who was blocked by the Maduro-controlled Supreme Tribunal of Justice from running for any office.

Machado last week urged supporters to demonstrate across Venezuela on Thursday, telling them in a video message that Maduro will not step down on his own and they “must make him leave.”

Meanwhile, Maduro has asked his supporters to demonstrate Friday.

But it is unclear whether anyone will heed calls to head to the streets with the increased security presence.

On Tuesday, despite being the first day of school after the holidays, children were nowhere to be seen during morning rush hour in Caracas, and some schools remained closed.

“There is tension. As soon as night falls, the city is like a ghost town," Caracas resident Mari Jimenez said. “We do not feel confident seeing so many police.”

Kidnappings were commonplace in Venezuela at the end of last and beginning of this century, when criminals targeted the wealthy and a thriving middle class. But that type of crime decreased in recent years, as the country’s economy came undone and Venezuelans began to emigrate.

Recently, people have associated kidnappings with the government practice of detaining its real or perceived opponents without following the law. They are seen as part of a campaign to repress anti-government protests that broke out after the election results were announced.

Electoral authorities in July declared Maduro the winner hours after polls closed, but unlike in previous presidential elections, they did not provide detailed vote counts. However, the opposition collected tally sheets from more than 80% of the nation’s electronic voting machines, posted them online and said they showed González had won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro.

The U.S.-based Carter Center, which Maduro’s government invited to observe the presidential election, has said the tally sheets published by the opposition are legitimate.

Hours after announcing his son-in-law's kidnapping, González announced he was continuing his multi-country tour with a visit to Panama. “On the way to Panama! We continue,” he posted on X.

Bolivarian Militia members leave the 4F Military Museum for a gathering of security forces at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, ahead of the presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Bolivarian Militia members leave the 4F Military Museum for a gathering of security forces at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, ahead of the presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Edmundo Gonzalez, who represented Venezuela's main opposition coalition in the July presidential election, addresses a gathering of supporters outside of the Organization of American States, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Edmundo Gonzalez, who represented Venezuela's main opposition coalition in the July presidential election, addresses a gathering of supporters outside of the Organization of American States, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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