From the Boston Globe, Colorado Springs Gazette and elsewhere:

Diana Chavez and Luis Herrera (at left) were among the protesters in Colorado Springs as members of the National Federation of the Blind picketed the opening of the film “Blindness” on Friday.

In addition to Colorado springs, there were news reports of protests in Boston, Des Moines; Denver;  Jacksonville, Florida; Rochester, Minnesota; Asheville, North Carolina; Dayton, Ohio; and elsewhere. Organizers said picketing was planned for 78 locations in 38 states.

Protesters handed out fliers and carried signs proclaiming the film a “travesty” and saying that “Stereotypes are the real evil.”

The film, which stars Julianne Moore, depicts a society  that is hit by an epidemic of blindness; chaos and depravity result. Protesters said the movie exacerbates stereotypes and stokes public fears.

“The difficulty of being blind comes from this low expectation of people who are blind,” said Mika Pyyhkala, who protested in Boston. “That causes more problems than any technical or direct blindness. This movie doesn’t portray the reality of what it’s like.”

See also:

Blind critics of film seem unenlightened — by Pete McMartin in the Vancouver Sun

The public image of the blind, I’d say, is one of downright admiration and empathy. The blind are empowered in our society, not demonized. I also thought the federation’s objection to blindness as a metaphor for depravity was silly because it had either misread it, or not read it at all.

Movie lacks insight about lack of sight — by Laurel Walker in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

I didn’t like it, but I’m not sure that viewers of the film will leap to the conclusions that … the federation think they will — that if you’re blind, you’re bad.

National Federation of the Blind video ‘Straight Talk’ interview with NFB public affairs specialist Chris Danielsen

“The impression one would get from watching this movie is that blind people are either just completely helpless or that we’re actually evil.”

(Photo of Diana Chavez and Luis Herrera from the Colorado Springs Gazette)

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 9:42 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, advocacy, blindness/visual impairments, celebrities, disabilities, entertainment, movies, personal stories, public attitudes, stereotypes, stigma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post