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Chicago punk-rockers Rise Against are never afraid to support causes they believe in, and that tradition continues with the release of their latest music video for "Make It Stop (September's Children)". The band partnered up with the It Gets Better Project, a non-profit group providing support to gay and lesbian teens, to relay their message of hope.

The clip starts off with an innocent high school girl walking to her locker, only to find name tags plastered all over the door with horrible insults like dyke and "die fag". A young male is in the bathroom when he's ganged up on and a couple of female bullies kiss him against his will. Another guy is minding his own business in the lunchroom when douchebags start to spit in his food.

Each character is shown walking home and appear to lose all hope. The girl reveals a gun that's she's been hiding in her room, the kid that was in the bathroom intends to hang himself and the lunchroom student is ready to jump off a freeway overpass. Watch the clip below to see the conclusion, as well as a behind-the-scenes segment.

Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that in this day and age, such extreme intolerance for other people's differences still exist. Thankfully, I never really witnessed this kind of bullying when I was in high school. Frontman Tim McIlrath released the following statement:

"A number of events were the catalyst for the creation of Make It Stop, everything from the suicides in September 2010, to our own fans voicing their fears and insecurities from time to time," says McIlrath. "I decided to create the song as a response, and when I discovered the It Gets Better campaign and [It Gets Better Project co-founder] Dan Savage's commitment to such an important and concise message, I was moved. I immediately felt that if our song is the road, then the It Gets Better project is the destination. I hope the synergy between the two can reach people and make a difference."

Do you witness or are a victim to this kind of bullying? Speak out or seek help from the It Gets Better Project.

 

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