Tarana Burke, who founded the MeToo movement 12 years ago and runs it out of the Brooklyn, New York, offices of Girls for Gender Equity, said she wanted people to recognise its deeper purpose — working with survivors of sexual assault, and not simply bringing down powerful abusers. “Folks think it’s about naming and shaming, about taking down powerful men. But they’re wrong,” Burke said. She noted that she was ‘desperate to change the narrative about the MeToo movement before it’s too late.’ Burke said that the past six months have been ‘like something out of a movie,’ and that she had never imagined that one day she would see the country involved in a sustained national dialogue about sexual violence “It is a mistake to think of this as a moment,” she said. “Movements are long, and they are built over time. Movements are made from moments.” Burke added that the past six months have been ‘like something out of a movie,’ and that she had never imagined that one day she would see the country involved in a sustained national dialogue about sexual violence. In order to keep momentum going, Burke explained, funds are needed. She said former tennis star Billie Jean King — who famously fought for equal pay for women on the tennis tour — had recently pledged to not only give $100,000 herself, but to help find nine more people to do that. Burke was honoured along with six other high-profile women, all for their work with various charities. Emily Blunt was cited for her work with the Malala Fund, named for Pakistani activist Malala Yousafazi, in promoting education for girls around the world. She spoke of how education was helping her older daughter, who is only four, thrive. Author Margaret Atwood, honoured for her work with the Canadian Women’s Foundation, spoke of how much her famous 1985 novel, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ now a major TV series, had unexpected resonance in current times, and she jokingly invited Americans unhappy with the current political state of the country up to Canada, where she said they would find a hot cup of tea and a mattress to sleep on. The event, hosted by comedian and late-night TV host Samantha Bee, also featured remarks from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who urged more women to run for political office and spoke of the need to achieve gender parity in the U.S. Congress. She also urged the Senate to move on legislation to reform how sexual harassment is dealt with on Capitol Hill. “Time’s Up, U.S. Senate!” she said. The Democrat from New York did not, however, make the announcement that host Bee had earlier quipped she was hoping for — a presidential run in 2020. Published in Daily Times, April 16th 2018.