YOUTUBE CENSORSHIP OF "SHOULD BE LEGALIZED" PROP 19 VIDEO--JOIN THE FIGHT

As many of you know, our political parody, Should Be Legalized, has been censored by YouTube and our virality, as a result, has been killed.

We were on pace to reach over a million views in a week after being featured on NORML's website, pro-marijuana blogs and boingboing.net. But we were haulted to a crawl when YouTube deemed our video as offensive and sided with the handful of anti-Prop 19 dissenters that flagged us. YouTube's policy is a travesty to free speech, especially during the final build up to such a historic election.

Compare our video to Eminem's and tell me which one is more offensive. One that depicts marijuana use. Or one that depicts alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, sexual assault, arson, and murder. Youtube allows Eminem's to be seen by all ages at all times, and even sells advertising on it. Yet our fun loving political message is deemed and flagged as offensive for the mere FICTIONALIZED depiction of marijuana use. Help us fight this.

Call the TMZ tip line (866 847 9869) and say "Steve Berke Prop 19" as many times as you can until they hang up. They have our video and and have watched it, and are deciding whether or not to run this story. If they run it, it will get picked up by the national media, and we can shame YouTube about the problems with their flagging/censoring system.

Journalists--This is our press release:

YouTube Censors Pro Prop 19 Political Campaign

Comedian's Video Supports Pro Pot Legalization Drive

Miami Beach, FL (Oct 26th, 2010) Last week, comedian Steve Berke launched an online political campaign in support of Proposition 19 in California with the recent release of his latest music video, "Should Be Legalized", a political commentary on Eminem's music video "Love The Way You Lie."

The campaign, supported by NORML (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws) was generating huge internet buzz, and had amassed 108,000 views within 2 days, when YouTube flagged it for being offensive, thus requiring users to login to view the video, killing the video's chance at becoming viral.

"We were on pace to reach 1 million views within a week, and our video was rallying supporters of Prop 19 and decriminalization in every state that had it on the ballot. Then YouTube flagged us for being offensive and killed any chance we had at reaching our potential audience. Their censorship of this video is similar to the Internet censorship that takes place in repressive countries like North Korea and China."

YouTube failed to give any reason to Berke for flagging the video and it is presently inaccessible to the vast majority of worldwide. "The flagging system does not have a system of recourse and re-review," stated Berke.

Fort Lauderdale attorney Norm Kent, on the Board of Directors at NORML, is among those who are outraged. "We will not let YouTube squash a vibrant political campaign the week before the historic November 2nd elections. Videos of rapper Snoop Dogg smoking marijuana are not flagged as offensive, but a song that merely names him as a marijuana user is? YouTube is effectively freezing a viral political movement as it gains momentum in time for a critical vote. They must remove the flag. If they do not, we will pursue the matter further until they do."

NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre adds, "YouTube's building a wall around Steve Berke's video makes no sense in light of dozens of other videos that depict normal cannabis use. YouTube, whether it means to or not, is stifling legitimate political discourse regarding an important initiative vote in California next week that seeks to legalize and tax cannabis."

"I just don't understand it," said Berke. "People smoking marijuana in videos on YouTube go unflagged, but our video, that involves actors merely pretending to smoke marijuana as political satire, is flagged immediately."

"In Eminem's video, alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, sexual assault, arson and murder are all prevalent and the video is not censored in any way. In fact, YouTube runs ads against it, not only profiting off the video, but also making it viewable to all ages at all times," Berke added.

The link to Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie" is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U&ob=av3e

The link to Berke's "Should Be Legalized" is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdIYVWA0dr0

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Steve
• Berke
• Should
• Be
• Legalized
• Prop
• 19
• video
• Outrage
• Youtube
• censorship
• parody
• Eminem
• Rihanna
• Love
• the
• Way
• You
• Lie

[MrTokebudz]

Hmm .. I am Tired of Waiting for It to be legalized .. I wonder How many people We could Get Medical users / stoners / hippies / Rastafarian's / pot heads. LETS ALL MEET IN DC AND PROTEST

[spencera35]

F youtube restrictions!!! just paste this in your url after the .com in youtube

/v/NdIYVWA0dr0

[BitterManFilms]

I think it is within youtube's interest to have people watching more of everything, view = ads + $. There's so much evil and uncensored stuff on here - the login barrier may be from a few written complaints rather than algorithmic due to dislikes.

Not that I agree with it, but youtube can act with relative impunity as a company, they aren't bound to freedom of speach or anything but the almightly dollar. At least they allow you to criticize them.

[Frogger5559]

Google censors people's work. Full stop. Consider VIMEO in future. Google censored an artist friend of mine who posted a piece of "artwork", not a photo, showing a breast. (one uncovered breast) She had ONE complaint. Like you guys said you can see an execution in China or a beheading, just don't show a naked breast or peaceful people advocating changing an unjust law. Unbelievable. I loved the video by the way. Don't let this minor setback deter you. Google has a brown nose.

[Godplant]

That's NOT right I wonder who pulled the strings to get that flagged total bullsh*t

[tee5231976]

there's NO reason that the video "Should be legalized" should be banned or flagged!!! it's censorship, plain and simple!! no one person or group should be able to judge what anyone else can see or hear. if you are a parent & are worried your kids will see it, then monitor what they have access to, that's your job, not youtube's. seriously the issue of legalizing should be discussed not blocked in anyway. just look at the occupy movement. people are done with hiding the issues!!

[Steelix32]

have you thought about reposting the video on a different account?

[karenwms63]

simple math...our own federal supreme court gave corporations the same rights as any individual. so google/youtube is using that law to their advantage. sadly, this puts google/youtube on the same level as the rest of the crew of "your money or your life"...you know the gang...with members who are well-known...most of us are familiar with the one who has the backing of the government, that will incarcerate you if you do not reply every April...the PRIVATE company most commonly known as the IRS?

[MsMeLLoNeLLo]

Well step one of turning America into a police state is to take away our modes of communication... and completely disassemble The Constitution. Step two - promote violence on obviously peaceful protesters. Step three - shove all the outspoken ones into "jails" or makeshift concentration camps. [Look up videos on the OTHER Denver Airport] It is SICKENING ... the things going on today. Keep up the good fight guys.

[SpearofDestiny0]

That's definitely an outrage. You can't censor someone's speech, what a crime against human knowledge and opinion.

[dungeoncrawler55]

All comments FTW

Oppose white genocide perpetrators(GOOGLE)