Dem Rep invited #MeToo founder to State of the Union

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) invited the founder of the “Me Too” movement, Tarana Burke, to President Trump’s first State of the Union address later this month. 

Speier said on MSNBC on Thursday she invited the activist to the address, in solidarity with other members of Congress who are expected to invite victims of sexual harassment to the event with their extra tickets.

The movement, started by Burke in 2006, has come to national prominence in recent months as high-profile figures in the entertainment and media industries have been ousted over allegations of sexual harassment or assault. 

Speier, who was a victim of sexual harassment as a congressional staffer, has called for reforms to the systems for reporting cases of sexual harassment in Congress. The House enacted a resolution in November requiring training for House members and their staffs to combat harassment on the Hill. 

The congresswoman pushed back against the idea that she was politicizing the issue, claiming that the movement is a “cultural moment of dramatic proportions in this country.” 

This week, Speier invited men and women to wear black to Trump’s address in solidarity with the movement, following a similar move by actors and actresses at the Golden Globe Awards this week.