Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school and college students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.

The explosive national debate over the state of democracy is hitting home among South Bay teens.

A random survey conducted by Mosaic of nearly 20 local students found that most believe democracy in the U.S. is under threat from censorship, political polarization and government overreach.

The South Bay is one of California’s most politically active and left-leaning regions. Even so, many teens who live there expressed frustration that their voices aren’t being heard.

“The First Amendment to me means that you are able to voice your opinion without any restrictions,” said Naithi

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