My family and I have actively been protesting the Invasion of Iraq. We marched both here at home (Los Angeles) and in San Francisco. Since the onset of the actual attack I have been continuing to voice my discontent with the American campaign at marches, sans my children. For their own protection, from the over-aggressive LAPD, we have only participated in vigils as a family. During recent demonstrations the police have collected information on demonstrators and detained protesters attempting to return to their cars after being asked to dispersed. Many people have been arrested that had no intention on participating in civil disobedience, unfortunately contained by police lines without the option to leave. The police are currently engaging in fear tactics geared towards scaring away protesters from airing their grievances in a peaceful manner as allowed by the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Needless to say, I am disappointed with the attempt to undermine nonviolent dissent by my local law enforcement.

Mainstream media also seems to be involved with censoring and omitting anti-war efforts. Tens to hundreds of thousands of people have participated in the rallies I have attended, yet little or no coverage has been given to them on the news. Reports have focused on arrests and arguments between protestors and police. Depicting the anti-war movement in a negative and "unpatriotic" way.

Censorship does not stop with the news media the entertainment industry also is actively suppressing anti-war voices. At the Oscars protestors and attendees alike were instructed not to speak up against the war. Radio stations , owned by Clear Vision, across the country are not allowing songs about peace to be aired. Concert venues are limiting what is said by performers against the war with threats of cancellation.

There is a bias towards pro-war opinions that is not only stifling activists but artists of various mediums as well. I hope to do my part to alleviate this problem by collecting songs, poems, essays, photographs, and articles expressing anti-war views. Please feel free to make comments and suggestions. I urge you to continue to communicate your disapproval of the Invasion of Iraq and the killing of innocent civilians. Only through our continued efforts can we hope to inspire change.