Know Censorship on the Internet, Arts & Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Censorship is the suppression of speech and art or other public communication, which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient as determined by our government, states Mike McNeilly. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional and creates a "chilling effect" on the right to express our beliefs. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120120/LA39204)

The "chilling effect" is the term used to describe the inhibition of the legitimate exercise of a constitutional right by the threat of legal sanction. The right that is most often described as being suppressed by a "chilling effect" is the right of free speech. Our rights are clearly stated in the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech or the press."  A "chilling effect" may be caused by legal actions such as the passing of a law, the decision of a court, or the threat of a lawsuit; any legal action that would cause people to hesitate to exercise their right to free speech for fear of the legal consequences.

The Internet is now facing the potential of censorship on-line. The arts & entertainment industry are increasingly being challenged by this "chilling effect" and censorship. Artists, like Mike McNeilly, create street art and super murals in support of the First Amendment and our right of free speech in America and have been censored by city officials and politicians. After the threats of arrests and fines, Artist Mike McNeilly created a street super mural called "Know Censorship." The mural states, "Know Censorship," know our First Amendment rights and continue to protect them. While painting another large scale mural called "Liberty," he was charged with criminal counts after partially painting the 120-foot-high mural.  When authorities stopped him from completing it, he added the word "CENSORED" to "Liberty." The case was taken to Federal Court to protect the artist from prosecution and to recognize the artist's First Amendment rights.

SOURCE Mike McNeilly