#MeToo – a timeline

Laura’s experience at Columbia was part of the genesis of women speaking out against sexual harassment and abuse

1997 Ashley Judd

Judd first spoke of sexual misconduct in Hollywood after a meeting with Harvey Weinstein when she alleges he tried to pressure her to give and receive massages. After finding out it was an “open secret” in Hollywood, she began warning others against him. She went on record in 2017.

2006 Tarana Burke

The sexual-violence survivor was the first to use the “Me Too” phrase, encouraging those who’ve experienced abuse to speak out.

2014 Emma Sulkowicz

A visual arts student at Columbia, they (Emma’s preferred pronoun) gained notoriety by carrying a dorm mattress around campus, highlighting the burden rape victims feel.

2016 Kelly Oxford

Following President Trump’s controversial “grabbing women” tape, the writer asked her Twitter followers to share their stories, followed by #NotOkay. The next day she’d had 9.7m responses.

2017 Harvey Weinstein

The New York Times published a damning report with decades’ worth of allegations, as scores of women told their stories.

2017 Alyssa Milano

The actress suggested that anyone who’d experienced sexual harassment should tweet #MeToo. Within days, the hashtag had been used over 12 million times.

2018 Harvey Weinstein

The mogul is arrested and charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct. He pleads not guilty.