Get your sneakers and slogans ready, because a new march is brewing! This time, a group of scientists—and anyone who cares about our planet—is gearing up to hit the streets in a peaceful protest against what they see as a hostile takeover of science and facts by the current administration.
“A lot of us independently thought, ‘Hey, let’s have a March for Science in Washington and beyond,’” said Jamie Thompson, a public health researcher and one of the event’s co-organizers. “We connected through social media—because where else would this kind of thing get started?”
Building an Inclusive Movement
Currently, they’re crafting a mission statement with a broad coalition of scientists to ensure their movement is inclusive. Their website, Facebook group, and Twitter account are already up and running. Cities like Seattle and Phoenix have even pledged to hold local marches in solidarity with their D.C. counterparts.
Goals of the March
While organizers are still finalizing the date, they have established some clear goals for the event. “There are undeniable facts we must accept: The Earth is warming due to human actions, and the diversity of life stemmed from evolution,” their site proclaims. “Politicians who undermine expertise risk making decisions that stray from reality and need to be held accountable.”
Response to Recent Actions
The motivation for this march stems from recent actions by the administration, which instructed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cease public communication and placed a gag order on Environmental Protection Agency employees, restricting them from sharing information on social media or speaking to the press. This is a direct affront to the scientific principles of transparency and accountability, which are core to agencies funded by taxpayer dollars, as reported by various news outlets.
“While this march is just the beginning, we hope it will catalyze a movement advocating for science in policymaking,” the organizers expressed online. “Cutting funding and preventing scientists from sharing their findings—especially from federally funded research—is absurd and cannot be tolerated.” They emphasize that this is a non-partisan issue that extends beyond the STEM community and should concern anyone who treasures empirical research and science.
Join the Movement
For those wondering, “Isn’t science supposed to be apolitical?” fear not—the organizers assure that while the march is non-partisan, it is definitely aimed at influencing policymakers. They invite “anyone who values empirical science” to join the cause.
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Conclusion
In summary, scientists are organizing a March for Science to advocate for factual integrity and transparency in public policy, driven by recent governmental actions that threaten scientific communication and funding. The movement welcomes anyone who values science and aims to hold policymakers accountable for their decisions.