Tarana Burke, the founder of the “Me Too” movement, will push the button that starts the world-famous ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
AM New York reported Monday that Burke would be honored at the ceremony, closing off a year where her social movement swept Hollywood, politics and other industries.
“I am delighted to be participating in this momentous occasion,” Burke told AM New York. “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.”
Burke, a social activist and founder of “Just Be Inc.,” an organization dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault, created the Me Too movement that came to prominence earlier this year after the hashtag #MeToo went viral.
{mosads}Over the past few months, the movement has brought down prominent figures over sexual harassment and assault allegations, like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Charlie Rose, as well as lawmakers like Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.).
Time magazine named the “Silence Breakers” as its Person of the Year, honoring the women who gave a louder voice to the Me Too movement.
Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, told AM New York that Burke’s “courage and foresight” are why she is being honored at the ceremony.
“New Year’s is a time when we look at the most significant cultural and political moments of the last year, when we look for inspiration by honoring and giving a global platform to those who have made a difference,” Tompkins said. “Tarana Burke’s courage and foresight have changed the world this year, and, we hope, forever.”