Get to Know the Activists that Walked the Red Carpet

2018 is The Year of Women. In the just the past few weeks, women around the country have been making powerful statements, claiming their right to be heard and respected. One of the most popular ways this was seen was at the Golden Globes last month. The Golden Globes are a highly anticipated and watched awards show. This year, it was also the stage for a women’s rights statement. In addition to most attendees wearing all black to support the Time’s Up movement, eight female actresses brought along powerful women’s rights activists as their dates. Here are some of the things you should know about the activists that walked the red carpet.  

1. Monica Ramirez  

Ramirez is the co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas. Ramirez’s work focuses on ending violence surrounding women, particularly farmworkers. In a letter that Ramirez wrote to Time, she said, “When we learned what was happening in Hollywood, our members felt strongly that they wanted to send a message to women in this industry and all people experiencing sexual violence in the work place that they’re not alone, that we stand with them, that we lend them our power and our strength as they move through this difficult time.”  

2. Tarana Burke  

Burke has been fighting for women’s rights for over 20 years. After hearing the upsetting story of a young teenaged girl who was sexually abused, Burke decided that she needed to act and do something. In 2007, Burke started Just Be Inc. a nonprofit organization that offers support and assistance to those who have experienced sexual assault and harassment. Not only did Burke start this organization, but she was also the originator of the “me too movement,” the slogan of her company that started a decade before social media reignited the phrase.  

3. Saru Jayaraman  

Jayaraman is the co-founder and co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, an organization that “works to improve wages and working conditions for the 14 million people who work in America’s restaurant industry.” Additionally, Jayaraman also works at The University of California, Berkeley as the director of its Food Labor Research Center.  

4. Marai Larasi  

Larsai was one of the busiest attendees of the Golden Globes. She is involved in three different activist organizations. Larasi is the executive director of Imkaan, a black feminist organization based in the UK that works to prevent violence against marginalized females, as well as provide support to survivors. Additionally, she is the co-chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition and is a partner in the “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds” EU/UN program.   

5. Rosa Clemente  

Clemente was part of the first women of color ticket in 2008 when she ran as a vice-presidential candidate for the Green Party. She is also the founder of Know Thy Self Productions, which has produced four major community activism tours and consults on media justice, voter engagement for youth of color, Hip-Hop activism, and more.  

6. Billie Jean King  

King is a retired professional athlete. She was a number one ranked tennis player and won 12 grand-slam singles titles. She became a household name when she beat Bobby Riggs in a tennis match. Inspired by her athletic career, King decided that she wanted to work towards female equality in athletics. In addition to advocating for equal pay for female athletes as a professional athlete on the road, she is also the founder of the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation.  

7. Ai-Jen Poo 

Poo is the Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Co-Director of Caring Across Generations. In an interview with The Guardian, Poo said, “This [the Golden Globes] was so much more than a dress-code protest. It was a powerful show of unity and solidarity among women, across industries and communities…I think everyone felt the power of that unity, it carried the night.”  

8. Calina Lawrence  

Lawrence is an indigenous activist and musician. In her time as an activist, she has fought for Native American treaty rights and is currently traveling and advocating for the Mni Wiconi (Water is Life) movement that was led by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.  

While there is much more to be done for women’s rights, the Time’s Up movement allowed millions of Americans to see the faces and hear the stories of eight powerful women that are actively fighting for the equality of marginalized groups around our nation. 

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