#MeToo activist, former first lady to speak in Fayetteville

Burke and Bush are speaking as part of UA’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

FAYETTEVILLE — Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush and #MeToo advocate Tarana Burke will speak as part of a lecture series presented by the University of Arkansas.

Burke will speak at 7 p.m. March

28 at the Fayetteville

Town Center, according to an announcement and UA’s website.

Published reports in The Washington

Post and The New York Times describe Burke as founding a movement more than 10 years ago using the words “Me Too” to help women and girls who experienced sexual assault.

Burke has been named a Time 100 honoree by Time magazine and a co-recipient of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab’s 2018 Disobedience Award, which seeks to honor those engaging in nonviolent acts of disobedience that help society, according to MIT’s website. She is being paid $25,000 from a student-approved fee, said Darinda Sharp, a UA spokesman.

Bush will speak April 18 at Bud Walton Arena.

The time of her speech will be announced at a later date.

Bush is married to former President George W. Bush and served as first lady from 2001-2009. Laura Bush is chairwoman of the Women’s Initiative at the Dallas-based George W. Bush Institute.

The effort involves promoting health care and education opportunities for women globally. She is being paid $88,900 from a student-approved fee, Sharp said.

Burke and Bush are speaking as part of UA’s Distinguished Lecture Series.