CONTEST FOR THE BEST PROTEST MUSIC VIDEOS

Justice Through Music announced today that they're launching a new campaign called Harmony Vids to motivate artists, bands, filmmakers and others to create a whole series of new protest videos. Justice Through Music is a non-profit organization dedicated to working with people to support civil rights and in 2004 they became well-known for a gigantic voter registration drive focused around the "Rock Your Rights" campaign, during which they distributed tens of thousands of free DVDs. They have been working with like-minded bands such as Sleater-Kinney, Anti-Flag, Indigo Girls, O.A.R., Violent Femmes, Yellowcard, the Living End, and many otehrs.

Starting today, Justice Through Music is looking for videos that make a cultural statement, have staying power, and will result in a change in consciousness. Their first category is for filmmakers to compete in creating videos for songs posted on the JTM website by the band Op-Crtitical. According to a the organization, "Whoever makes the best video of each song will win at least a $500 prize, and the video will be featured on the JTM front page, submitted to film festivals and cable TV, placed in a Harmony Vids! DVD, included in press releases, and played on many Internet sites, cool blogs and news sites where they will be viewed by millions of people." And their second category is for bands and performers to submit their own music videos-- with the same prize structure awarded in each of 4 genres: "rock," "urban," "country" and "other."

The first video, available on www.op-critical.com, is about a wife who lost her husband in the Iraq war, and it was shot at Arlington National Cemetery.

Protest songs can be about the war, politicians, the environment, fascism, lies, fear, the military and all civil rights related topics. JTM will post all videos submitted as long as they are good quality. Submissions will be accepted until September 15, 2006 and winners will be announced by October 1, 2006. For more information, visit the Justice Through Music website.