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thr.com/sites/default/files/2018/01/img_1995-embed_2.jpg Over 300 hundred of the entertainment world’s most powerful film, theater, and television actors have recently joined hands to put an end to the ongoing campaign of injustice against women within the industry and beyond.  Bravely speaking out against assault, sexual harassment, exploitation, and gender-based discrimination, the Time’s Up campaign is by far the most extensive women’s rights and empowerment initiative today.

The campaign was recently announced through the front page advert in the New York Times newspaper. This Hollywood project is the inventiveness of the women in positions of power in the entertainment industry as a way to empower those who are not privileged enough to be able to voice their concerns. Time’s Up is a movement aimed to address the systemic injustice against women from all walks of life, in all aspects of life. The movement is a show of solidarity and a call for a globally unified front in order to end the unjust treatment against women everywhere, regardless of whether they make their livelihood by lighting up theater screens worldwide, or by working as a janitor in the smallest of establishment.

While various women’s rights movements have come across the limelight in recent times, Time’s Up is, in its infancy, already considered to be one of the most impactful initiatives. And that’s not because it receives full support from high-profile members of the entertainment community, such as Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, and Natalie Portman. Time’s Up, with its Legal Defense Fund, is all set up to provide legitimate subsidized legal support to any woman who has been subjected to sexual harassment or gender discrimination in their respective workplaces.

The Legal Defense Fund is an official call for donations from the supporters around the world with a goal to raise money in order to facilitate the legal support, which will be provided by the organization. The fund was organized and set up on December 20, 2017, in partnership with the Direct Impact Fund, a non-profit organization, aimed at helping launch this movement effectively. The donations made to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund are tax-deductible via their GoFundMe profile.

With the help of over fourteen thousand people from across the globe, the organization has raised over $15.5 million, coming particularly close to reaching its goal of raising $16 million. Organized and run by the National Women’s Law Center, and working with a vast network of public relations officers and attorneys, Time’s UP aims to provide instantaneous, effective, and comprehensive legal assistance to whoever is brave enough to ask for it. As a call for support, the campaign requested Hollywood’s who’s who to don their best black dresses and suits at the 75th Golden Globe Awards to protect women’s rights and show their solidarity against sexual harassment and discrimination.

Apart from a few who chose to skip the black ensemble, stars such as Kate Hudson, Jessica Biel and beau Justin Timberlake, Halle Berry, Kerry Washington, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, Emma Stone, Michelle Williams, Susan Surandon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Mary J. Blige all stepped out in the best black to lend their powerful support to the cause.  A vast number of actors, directors, and other industry supporters at the award ceremony were also seen sporting a small black-and-white lapel pin with Time’s Up stamped on it for the everyone to see, making it by far the most powerful accessory to date.

 Amongst the sea of supporters of the movement present at the recent ceremony, Oprah Winfrey, wearing the most gorgeous black gown, was perhaps the most vocal of them all. Upon her acceptance of the Golden Globe’s Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement, Winfrey gave a powerful speech about equality, lauding women’s efforts to speak for their rights and openly calling out the sexual harassers from their transgressions against what is no longer going to be considered the ‘weaker’ gender. After expressing her gratitude for the courage and strength displayed by women, who have continued to struggle against violence, discrimination, abuse, and assault for years on end, she called on the world to recognize the importance of standing with the members of Time’s Up and to acknowledge that injustice against women knows no bounds. It does not affect just the women in the entertainment industry, but also those belonging to all races, religions, or cultures.

It’s Time’s Up on waiting, tolerating, and being afraid. Here’s to women never having to say #metoo, again – because the time is up!