The Founder of the #MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke, will lead New Yorkers and the greater American East Coast into 2018 as she pushes the button to make the New Year's ball descend in New York City's Time Square.

Burke announced the news on her Twitter page on Monday, December 18, 2017.

She captioned her announcement with excitement and revealed that she has new intentions to set for the upcoming year.

"Welp! Looks like the cat is out of the bag. Yours truly will be pressing the Waterford crystal button to release the ball drop in Times Square on NYE. We are setting intentions for the new year. #metoo2018," she wrote on the social networking site.

Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, the entities who co-sponsor the celebratory event made their own announcement about highlighting Burke and her social activism (seen below).

For ten years, Burke has been serving as an activist who co-founded Just Be Inc. She specializes in working with those who are survivors of sexual assault and began empowering women to come forward with their stories utilizing the #MeToo movement.

The hashtag gained viral popularity when actress Alyssa Milano shared it on her social media pages to be in alliance with the women who stepped forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein and other men of sexual misconduct, assault, and harassment.

The President of the Times Square Alliance, Tim Tompkins felt it was important to recognize Burke since she's a New Yorker who has made a difference in mainstream society and media with her activism.
“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. Tarana Burke’s courage and foresight have changed the world this year, and, we hope, forever," Tompkins told amNY, a media outlet that focuses on news occurring within the city's five boroughs.

Congratulations Tarana!

Tags: harvey weinstein Alyssa Milano sexual assault Sexual Harassment