The 57th Annual Grammy Awards night turned historic with unprecedented concerns over domestic violence.
Brooke Axtell narrated a telling account of what domestic violence entails. Speaking of her relationship with an ex-boyfriend during which she hopelessly believed that her compassion could restore him and their relationship, she urged survivors to reach out for help:
“Authentic love does not devalue another human being. Authentic love does not silence, shame or abuse. If you are in a relationship with someone who does not honor and respect you, I want you to know that you are worthy of love. Please reach out for help. Your voice will save you. Let it extend into the night, let it part the darkness. Let it set you free to know who you truly are — valuable, beautiful, loved.”
President Obama also appeared on a video screen to quote that 1 in 4 women in the US have experienced domestic violence and pressed for the need to “change our culture for the better by ending violence against women and girls.”