Science protesting across America
Photo courtesy of Samantha Canter
“Stand Up for Science” protests have been happening all across the nation due to Donald Trump’s recent anti-science orders.
At the beginning of March, the United States saw a protest movement for science. Since Donald Trump stepped into office, many of his actions seem to be anti-science in nature. This has led to unrest among Americans, resulting in the "Stand Up for Science" protests.
The Lincolns Memorial hosted thousands of researchers, scientists, civilians, and federal workers who had been fired under the Trump Administration as part of these protests. Across the country, many other locations also experienced rallies. An estimated 30 events took place within the nation, with many more taking place outside of the United States.
President Trump’s administration has conducted budget cuts to research and science funding along with science agencies. Trump's first term in office was also marked by "March for Science" protests, displaying a pattern in his administration. Astronomer Phil Plait stated, according to science.org, “We are looking at the most aggressive antiscience government the U.S. has ever had… We have fought antiscience before, and we’ve won” while speaking at the protest.
California State Senator, Scott Weiner, said during the San Francisco rally, “If the federal government continues to abandon science and advocates, we in California need to seize that opportunity and become even bigger leaders internationally in this state for science and for research”
Michael Mann is a well-known climate scientist and science advocate at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He made a speech at the Washington DC protest and stated, per eos.org, “But this is the most challenging moment I can recall for science itself… Science is under siege.”
Chris McEntee, former American Geophysical Union (AGU) Chief Executive Officer, was also in attendance at the DC rally but attended as a concerned citizen. He exclaimed at the rally per eos.org, “I believe in science, I support science, and I think what’s happening in this country is setting us back to the Dark Ages… We have to not be afraid to speak up and say what we stand for, because I think the current administration wants us to be afraid. And I get it, why people are afraid, but that’s not going to help the situation.”
A patient advocate, Brian Cassidy, said, “The reason I am on stage, the reason I have helped organize this event, is because I am so effing grateful to the amazing people who do the amazing things and do the amazing research. And now they're being assaulted. Screw this ‘Make America Great’ bullshit… Science makes the world great.” He also spoke of his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, relapses, and now being in remission for ten years due to finding a clinical trial.
Environmental scientist, Marian Walker, said, “Today we are watching federally funded, paid summer research experiences for undergraduates, otherwise known as REUs, available to all students regardless of their background, being defunded, threatened, canceled, and suspended, alongside targeted DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] educational programs,” at the San Francisco rally.
On Mar. 7, SUNY Geneseo hosted its own “Stand up for Science” protest. The Biology department invited students to come “defend against the attacks on people who do science, science, and science education programs, funding of scientific research, and firings of federal science workers.”
Students and faculty created posters exclaiming the importance of science and research and advocating for those who educate and want to be educated on it. Some of the posters included taglines such as “Science is for everyone,” “Knowledge Belongs to Everyone,” “Our World Depends on Science,” and “Destroy the Patriarchy, Not the Planet.”
The rally was held in front of the Integrated Science Center (ISC) from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Then, between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM, a Teach-In was held for everyone in attendance. Members of the audience were informed of the injustice that science is currently facing and what the community could do to advocate for and defend the sciences.