#MeToo campaign continues to grow on social media

The #metoo movement on social media is continuing to gain traction.

It was first re-ignited by actress Alyssa Milano in response to the Harvey Weinstein scandal but now has evolved into a sweeping effort to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault. 

So far there have been more than 10-million tweets and Facebook posts, comments and reactions to the campaign. 

Fanny Villarreal is executive director of the YWCA, which empowers women, and hopes this social media firestorm shatters the stigma surrounding sexual assault and inspires a more open dialogue going forward — even after #metoo has died down. 

“It is important to say what happened because it opens the door for other women to say ‘this what happened to me too,'” explained Villarreal. 

It’s estimated that two out of every three victims of sexual assault stay silent often out of fear of retaliation or embarrassment.