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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 16 OctOber 2019

MeToo leader launches new hashtag to mobilize voters

By ERRIN HAINES year. "The whole point of
AP National Writer #MeTooVoter is to say that
The founder of #MeToo is survivors are a huge po-
using the second anniver- litical force and incredibly
sary of the movement to motivated in this moment,"
launch a new effort intend- Poo said. "We're going to
ed to mobilize voters head- be calling on anyone who's
ing into the 2020 election. serious about governing
The new hashtag and leading this country
#MeTooVoter was unveiled forward to actually an-
Tuesday, on the same day swer for how they're going
as the fourth Democratic to make this country more
presidential debate and safe."
reflects a frustration among Burke said that nearly a
activists that issues of sexual year into the Democratic
violence and harassment primary, none of the 2020
have largely been absent hopefuls has spoken to
from the debate stage and her as they have shaped
campaign trail. their presidential platforms, In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, photo Tarana Burke, founder and leader of the #MeToo movement,
"You can't have 12 mil- which she said points to a poses for a portrait in New York.
lion people respond to a lack of urgency even amid Associated Press
hashtag in this country and a climate of increased
they not be constituents, awareness around the is- millions and seen as a major "Any candidate who wants in this country," Richards
taxpayers, and voters," sue. She hopes #MeTooVo- turning point in the MeToo the support of women, I said. "Women don't feel
#MeToo founder Tarana ter will prompt debate movement, was seen by hope understands the im- safe in America. There's
Burke said in an interview moderators to ask a ques- some women as a setback portance of speaking to been very little conversa-
with The Associated Press. tion about sexual violence to efforts to hold men ac- the issues that are on the tion about this, and that's
"We need these candi- at the next debate, but countable for sexual vio- minds of millions of voters unacceptable."q
dates to see us as a power does not expect the topic lence. For Burke, the mo-
base. So many people en- to come up on Tuesday. ment was a turning point.
gage with survivors from a Whether #MeToo makes "It was the first time we saw
place of pity." the debate stage or not, survivors en masse come
A record number of wom- Burke said she is consider- out and put their bodies on
en are running in the 2020 ing a town hall around the the line for this issue," said
Democratic field, and issue to hear more fully from Burke. "It was the moment
women will be a pivotal candidates about their I realized we had to form
bloc in both the primary stances. as an organization. Peo-
and the general election. It was on the one-year an- ple are willing to stand up,
Still, women are too often niversary of when #MeToo march, talk, come out in
treated like a special inter- became a viral hashtag the rain. People are ready
est group rather than the that Burke was still reeling for this moment."
majority of the American from the confirmation of Supermajority co-founder
electorate, said Ai-jen Poo, Supreme Court Justice Brett Cecile Richards said the
director of the National Do- Kavanaugh , whose nomi- issue of sexual violence is
mestic Workers Alliance, nation hearing focused something the organiza-
which is partnering with largely on allegations of tion, which is a #MeTooVo-
#MeToo on voter educa- sexual assault when he was ter partner, has identified
tion, mobilization and turn- a teenager. as an election-year priority
out efforts over the next The hearing, watched by among women.