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Activist Tarana Burke will be honored at this year's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration for her work in naming and propelling the #MeToo movement, in which women and men came forward with stories of sexual abuse and harassment they were previously withholding. She'll be releasing the Waterford crystal ball that signals the start of the New Year.
Burke first began telling other women me too in 2007, ten years after an experience with a 13-year-old who had shared a story of her own abuse with her left her speechless. Her work was momentarily overshadowed by mostly white activists on Twitter after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged women to share stories with the uncredited hashtag.
“I am delighted to be participating in this momentous occasion,” said Burke in a statement. “I think it’s fitting to honor the Me Too movement as we close a historic year and set our intentions for 2018. With the new year comes new momentum to fuel this work and we won’t stop anytime soon.”