“TIME’S UP on silence. TIME’S UP on waiting. TIME’S UP on tolerating discrimination, harassment, and abuse.” Those are the words that sparked change, and are causing women and men to stand in solidarity against sexual assault, harassment, and inequality in the workplace. On January 8, 2018 the Golden Globes took place, and the annual awards show took place with hundreds of celebrities in their best designer outfits. It didn’t take long for the audience to realize the Golden Globes was being used as a statement, with a large majority of the nominees wearing black to show support for the Times Up Now campaign.

It’s no surprise that this statement has been made since the media has been full of stories of sexual assault and indecency in most work environments. And many women have bravely come forward with their stories.

Personally, I find it outrageous that women have to be brave and courageous to get justice for the abuse they deal with. Last night’s Golden Globe statement was one of the best and most useful award shows that Hollywood has ever thrown, even though it was probably a publicity stunt in some ways. Most award shows to me are just a lot of shallow people getting all dressed, spending their money on expensive clothes that they will only wear once. But 2018 has started off right and people are standing together talking about issues that actually matter and that is in desperate need for a change.

Majority of the attendees wore black to show their support, men and women, but some men wanted to show that they weren’t just coincidentally wearing black and went beyond to wear a pin on their suits that says “Times Up”. The Stranger Things kids, Justin TImberlake, host Seth Meyers and many others wore the pin in solidarity.

When I heard about the the all black outfit coordination I was slightly confused as to what color coordination could solve. Then I realized it isn’t about the outfits at all, it’s about standing together and acknowledging that there is inequality in our world and there are ways to change it. Everyone deserves to go to work feeling safe, nobody should have to be careful of what they say or wear in any circumstance, and they shouldn’t be afraid to talk to strangers. The world is too big to be cautious of every stranger at a store, or in a parking lot.

So if you wore black yesterday you stand for equality and against abuse, and now it’s time to change the injustice in our society. Time’s Up Now is a non profit organization that only wants to help people and stop abuse, and take the fear out of the process. Their website, timesupnow.com, is dedicated to doing just that. On their website they have an opportunity for viewers to sign the Letter of Solidarity by donating to the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. Many celebrities and survivors of abuse have signed the Letter of Solidarity and encourage other to as well. Of course if you don’t donate then you can read about what you can do to help the community and how to notice the signs of harassment. They also have a long list of hotlines for survivors to refer to and how they can personally get help, as well as legal defense help.

Time’s Up Now has brought attention to this important issue but they can’t do it alone, so go out there and fight for this cause. Discrimination, harassment, and abuse will no longer be tolerated.