Music video has message for men about violence against women

Music can send such a message. And there is a powerful one in the new, original song called “Do You Think You Can Protect Me?”

Duluth native Emily Haavik wrote the piece. “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever share it. It’s a pretty heavy song, and wrote it in a more cathartic and artistic way. I had been wanting to write a song about violence against women for a long time.”

Her friend Brianna Hall-Nelson is a choreographer, and she came on board with creating a dance for the song.

Additional artists got involved, including Michelle Truax, a videographer. And then even more, with Jillian Rae for video production, and the dancers, like Erin Sola.

“The more women who came into, brought even more ideas, and more passion. It’s a really cool collaborative effort.”

Filmed in Chester Park, the video portrays a woman dancing in the woods, and then she’s joined by many other women.

“So many women came up to me. It felt like everyone had something to say about this, but not always a venue to say it,” Haavik shared. “It’s so powerful, turning shame and pain into art.”

As for what they want men to hear in this song, she said, “I think we we want to ask men to step up and join the fight. I want men to hear that we see them, and see the harm in the underlying culture that perpetuates the harm. I want them to hear that we’re calling them out. We need everybody in order to end the culture of violence against women. We need them to hold themselves accountable.”

They connected with Native Lives Matter, because they wanted to raise awareness and money to support the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.

Rene Goodrich is part of the video, with her granddaughter. She said she herself is a survivor of violence.

“I was so honored and thrilled when Emily invited us to be part of this beautiful group of women. And help us build those bridges. It’s not just an indigenous issue. It’s a human rights issue,” Goodrich said.

The “Do You Think You Can Protect Me” video release and benefit for MMIW is coming up on Friday, September 23rd, at Earth Rider. It’s from 6-10pm. The song and video will be available on that day as well.

• Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/752960536125054
• Website for the Native Lives Matter No More MMIW – MMIWg2S Great Lakes Campaign: www.nomoremmiwr.com
Credit for the Red Dress public art display – “Red Dress for MMIWg2S Great Lakes – Public Awareness Art and Public Education for MMIW, MMIWg2S”