'We are here because of you': Michelle Williams and Meryl Streep lead the women of Hollywood in praise for activists accompanying at the Golden Globes including the founder of #MeToo

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Meryl Streep, Emma Watson and Michelle Williams are among the eight actresses who have brought racial and gender justice activists as their guests to Sunday night's Golden Globes.

The women, all wearing black, were inspired by the Time's Up initiative launched by hundreds of Hollywood women to advocate better for the end of sexual harassment. 

Streep walked the red carpet with Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, while Williams' guest is Tarana Burke, the founder of the #metoo movement and senior director at Girls for Gender Equity.

'We believe we are nearing a tipping point in transforming the culture of violence in the countries where we live and work,' the actresses said in a joint statement. 

'It's a moment to transform both the written and unwritten rules that devalue the lives and experiences of women.' 

MICHELLE WILLIAMS WITH TARANA BURKE

Golden Globe nominee Williams says that she just wants to listen to what #MeToo founder Tarana Burke has to say, and that's why she brought her to Sunday's Golden Globes.

Michelle Williams' guest is Tarana Burke (right), the founder of the #metoo movement and senior director at Girls for Gender Equity for Sunday's Golden Globes

Williams told The Associated Press: 'I'm so much more interested in what you have to say than what I have to say.'

Burke, an activist from Harlem, launched the #MeToo movement a decade ago to aid underprivileged women of color affected by sexual abuse.

A young girl she bonded with during a youth camp hosted by Just Be Inc - a nonprofit Burke founded - revealed that her mother's boyfriend had been abusing her. 

That's when Burke decided to take action by helping the communities where rape crisis centers and sexual assault workers were not present, and 'Me Too' was born.

The two-word phrase resurfaced in October when actress Alyssa Milano took to Twitter to invite those who have experienced sexual harrassment to respond with 'Me too.'  

Burke says the solidarity and the support behind Time's Up and #MeToo is something we've never seen before and that she's grateful to the actresses sharing their platforms to turn the spotlight back on survivors rather than perpetrators. 

Williams is nominated for her role in Ridley Scott's 'All the Money in the World'. When asked about working with Christopher Plummer who replaced Kevin Spacey in the film after Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct, Williams says she's 'not talking about that'.

MERYL STREEP WITH AI-JEN POO

Streep is attending the annual awards show with Ai-jen Poo, the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance,

'She and I are so happy to be here in this particular moment,' Streep told E! News.

Meryl Streep walked the red carpet with Ai-jen Poo (left), the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, while Michelle Williams' guest is Tarana Burke (right), the founder of the #metoo movement and senior director at Girls for Gender Equity for Sunday's Golden Globes

'I think that people are aware now of a power imbalance and it's something that leads to abuse...We feel sort of emboldened in this particular moment to stand together in a thick black line dividing then from now.' 

Both women wore black for the big night in support of the Time's Up initiative.

Poo has an impressive resume in standing up for the rights of older domestic workers. She is the founder of Domestic Workers United, a New York-based organization of nannies, housekeepers, and older caregivers who are Caribbean, Latina, and African.

The goal of the group is to organize more power, respect, and fair labor for women in the selected categories.  

In 2015, Poo wrote and published a book entitled 'The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America' to inform younger citizens about the increase in senior citizens and how to make sure they're cared for.

In 2014, Poo earned the MacArthur 'Genius' Award for her achievements.

EMMA WATSON WITH MARAI LARASI 

Emma Watson (left) was accompanied by Marai Larasi, the executive director of Imkaan, a UK-based women's organization 'aimed at responding to and preventing violence against black minoritized women and girls'

Watson, the star of 'Beauty and the Beast', was accompanied by Marai Larasi, the executive director of Imkaan, a UK-based women's organization 'aimed at responding to and preventing violence against black minoritized women and girls.' 

'It really makes me really emotional thinking about the fact that the movement we've put together is across industries, it's across communities, it's across spaces,' Watson told Variety.

'This issue doesn't just affect women in Hollywood, this issues is affecting women everywhere in every country around the world. It is global, it is systemic, it is structural.'

Larasi added: 'What we're basically saying is not the beginning of the movement or the end of the movement. But it is a critical point.'

Larasi, who has been fighting to end violence against women for more than two decases, was recognized by the World Pride Power List of 2013 as one of the most influential LGBT people in the world of politics, arts, and entertainment.

She was also made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for her work with black and minority ethnic women, according to the Huffington Post.  

AMY POEHLER WITH SARU JAYAMARAN

Comedian Poehler arrived with Saru Jayaraman, co-founder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which, according its website, aims to influence fair wages and safe workplaces for restaurant workers.

Comedian Amy Poehler (left) arrived with Saru Jayaraman (right), co-founder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which, according its website, aims to influence fair wages and safe workplaces for restaurant workers

Jayaraman recently wrote an essay in Food and Wine magazine about how fair wages in the restaurant industry are key in fighting harassment.

She says that many women in the industry are encouraged to tolerate upsetting and inappropriate behavior from customers in order to get the tips they need to offset the low base wages they're paid. 

'As women earning just a few dollars an hour from their employers, they are forced to tolerate inappropriate behavior - from lewd comments and groping to assault - in order to feed their families in tips,' Jayamaran wrote. 

'And this culture of objectification creates a hostile environment that leaves workers vulnerable to further abuse from coworkers and management.'

When asked by the Los Angeles Times why they were wearing black, Poehler said: 'Sometimes it represents the ending of something, [but] we're showing solidarity and leaning into the beginning of something.'

Jayamaran added: 'Black is the most powerful color. Black is power. Woman are powerful.' 

EMMA STONE WITH BILLIE JEAN KING

Stone was accompanied by Billie Jean King, the tennis legend whom she portrayed in 'Battle of the Sexes' last year, earning a Golden Globe nomination. 

King, a longtime advocate for women's and LGBT rights, founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the Women's Sports Foundation and the Women's Tennis Association.

Stone (left) was accompanied by Billie Jean King (right), the tennis legend whom she portrayed in 'Battle of the Sexes' last year, earning a Golden Globe nomination

'I think it's one step at a time. Every generation has to fight for equality and its now Emma's turn with her generation,' King told People.

'And it's great to be here tonight wearing black. We really have to - it's gotta stop, it's gotta stop now. And we have to help each other and it's everybody, all genders together.' 

Stone expressed her admiration for King as been a pioneer of speaking out for women's rights.

'Billie Jean has been using tennis as a platform since the very beginning,' she said. 'That's pretty much the conversation that happens with Billie Jean.'

But the athlete shared her mutual respect for the actress.

'To get to know Emma as a friend means everything to me,' she said. 'I can't believe the teamwork that was involved. Just from seeing the teamwork and respect and love for each other.'

SUSAN SARANDON WITH ROSA CLEMENTE

Sarandon, nominated for 'Feud: Bette and Joan' attended the show with Rosa Clemente, an organizer, political commentator and independent journalist.

Susan Sarandon (right), nominated for 'Feud: Bette and Joan' attended the show with Rosa Clemente (left), an organizer, political commentator and independent journalist

Clemente is currently a doctoral student in the WEB Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies of University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Her academic work has focused on research of national liberation struggles within the US focusing on  the Young Lords Party and the Black Liberation Army. 

While a student at Cornell, she was a founding member of La Voz Boriken, a social/political organization dedicated to supporting Puerto Rican political prisoners and the independence of Puerto Rico.

Clemente is also the founder of Know Thy Self Productions, which produces community activism tours and consults on hip-hop feminism, media justice, and the right of Puerto Rico to be an independent nation. 

She made history as the first Afro-Latina woman to run for Vice-President of the US in 2008 on the Green Party ticket.

LAURA DERN WITH MONICA RAMIREZ

Dern, of Big Little Lies, was joined by Mónica Ramírez, the head of the National Farmworkers Women's Alliance.

Laura Dern (right), of Big Little Lies, was joined by Mónica Ramírez (left), the head of the National Farmworkers Women's Alliance

'I'm very, very excited to be here with Mónica Ramírez,' Dern told Ryan Seacrest on E!'s Live From the Red Carpet. 

'I reached out to her to say that she stood with all the 700,000 women farm workers in solidarity for the women in our industry who were brave enough to speak out about sexual harassment and assault.'

Ramírez discussed why farmworker women were standing up for those in Hollywood.

'Farmworker women pick, pack and plant the food that we eat and have a long history of combating workplace sexual violence,' she explained. 

'Our members felt very strongly that they wanted to send a message to the women in this industry and all women who are experiencing sexual violence in the workplace that they are not alone. 

'We stand with them, and we lend them our power and our strength as they move through this difficult time.'

SHAILENE WOODLEY WITH CALINA LAWRENCE

Woodley brought Calina Lawrence, a member of the Suquamish Tribe in Washington state. 

She advocates for Native Treaty Rights, the 'Water is Life' movement and the #NoLNG253 campaign led by the Puyallup Tribe.

Woodley tweeted about her guest: 'SO HONORED AND MOVED AND GRATEFUL to be walking this life hand in hand with my dear sister @Calina_Lawrence. 

'[T]oday, we will walk the red carpet at the #goldenglobes together to hold the space for both solidarity and accountability on the imbalance of power between women and men.'

Shailene Woodley (right) brought Calina Lawrence (left), a member of the Suquamish Tribe in Washington state who advocates for Native Treaty Rights, the 'Water is Life' movement and the #NoLNG253 campaign led by the Puyallup Tribe

Shailene Woodley was accompanied by Suquamish Tribe member Calina Lawrence. 

The Time Up initiative vowed support for women in the entertainment business and beyond, from janitors to health care workers.

'Each of us will be highlighting legislative, community-level and interpersonal solutions that contribute to ending violence against women in all our communities,' the advocates' statement said Sunday. 

'It is our hope that in doing so, we will also help to broaden conversations about the connection to power, privilege and other systemic inequalities.'

The statement says that women of color should be at the center of the solutions.

'We want to encourage all women - from those who live in the shadows to those who live in the spotlight, from all walks of life, and across generations - to continue to step forward and know that they will be supported when they do,' the statement continued.

Mark Ruffalo tweeted Sunday that he would also be wearing black 'in solidarity with the men and women asking for respect and equality.' 

He encouraged others to tweet themselves wearing black with the hashtag #TimesUp.