Protestors Denounce Defunding at LA’s March for Science

Mike Gloria, a protestor at the Earth Day March in Downtown Los Angeles, California on April 22, 2017 watches a choir presentation a he holds a deer head to show that when the earth goes, us and all the animals go with it. Zane Meyer-Thornton.

Speaker at the Earth Day Protest Susan Jewell talks about future expeditions to Mars to show the importance of science at the Earth Day Protest in downtown Los Angeles, California on April 22, 2017. Zane Meyer-Thornton.

Science in Los Angeles to mark an annual event - Earth Day, which is celebrated worldwide on April 22. The demonstration started at Pershing Square and headed to the city council, where speakers talked about the importance of scientific research. Some of the protesters held banners criticizing the policy of US President Donald Trump. Similar marches were held across the US on the same day. Matthew Martin.

Twins Matthew (left) and Vanessa (right) Bell anxiously wait for the March for Science event to begin while holding signs in Pershing Square in Downtown Los Angles California, on Saturday April 22, 2017. Matthew Martin.

Nearly 50,000 protesters took part in the March for Science in Los Angeles marching down Hill Street chanting, “Science not Silence” while holding up the March for Science organizational banner as they make their way to Los Angles City Hall in Downtown Los Angles, California, on Saturday, April 22 2017. Matthew Martin.

Estimated two dozen Trump supporters gathered in front of the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters, across the street from City Hall, to voice their support for the president during the March for Science event in downtown Los Angles Calif., on Saturday, April 22 2017. The Trump supporters waved American Flags and pro Trump flags and held up a crucifix that had written on it, “All lives matter to me.” Matthew Martin.

A few protesters get comfortable at The March for Science as they survey the thousands in attendance in front of Los Angles City Hall while waiting for the first key speaker of the day in downtown Los Angles, California, on Saturday, April 22 2017. Matthew Martin.

Thousands of protesters arrive at Los Angles City Hall and make their presence felt by chanting and holding up their signs as they wait for key speakers during the March for Science event in downtown Los Angles, California, on Saturday, April 22 2017. Matthew Martin.

Nitin Apte, Chief Executive Officer and President at Materia Inc. speaks to the thousands of March for Science protesters in attendance in front of Los Angles City Hall about the importance of billionaires like him getting involved with the issues of climate and safeguarding the important role scientists play in government and politics in downtown Los Angles California, on Saturday, April 22 2017. Matthew Martin.

March for Science protesters take a break from the heat and eat in the shade after the majority of key speakers had wrapped up their speeches in front of Los Angles City Hall in downtown Los Angles California, on Saturday, April 22 2017. Matthew Martin.

"Ask a forensic scientist!" The March for Science in Downtown Los Angeles had several booths, like this one for CSUNs College of Natural & Social Sciences. They set up a crime scene to make it more interesting. April 22, 2017. (Jazz Shademan)

Somone's unattended clothing rack of anti-trump shirts at the March for Science rally on Earth Day in Downtown Los Angeles, April 22, 2017. (Jazz Shademan)

On Saturday, April 23, hundreds of scientists and activists gathered in cities nationwide to show their support for fact-based research and environmental protection.

These protests are partly in response to President Trump’s proposed “America First” budget plan which slashes funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and NASA.

The March for Science, including the one here in LA, comes on the 47th annual Earth Day. An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 demonstrators packed Pershing Square for the local protest around 11AM, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Led by a pair of massive electric Hummers, the crowd of thousands marched to the steps of City Hall, chanting along the way “Money for science and education! Not for wars and climate alteration!”

As the protest reached City Hall, several guest speakers took to the podium, including Stephanie Pincetl, director of the California Center for Sustainable Communities at UCLA and a professor at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

Another key speaker, Martha Dina Arguello, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Los Angeles, told the crowd, “Today the Cold War is over and the nuclear threat is not.”

Organizers of the protest say their goal is to stand against the defunding of scientific research, while highlighting the role it plays in improving health care, the environment, and the economy.

Congressman Brad Sherman was also in attendance. “We’ve got to take a stand and explain to Donald Trump that he can’t stop global warming just by emitting an unprecedented volume of hot air,” he told protestors at City Hall.

Although the organizers insist the March for Science is not a partisan event, but an effort to engage both liberals and conservatives alike, a small group of Trump supporters chanted “Lying media!” and “USA!” at the rest of the protestors. One man, dressed as President Trump, danced in the crowd. Their message was explicitly clear. “We just came here to show our support for our President,” said Trump supporter Debbie Liston.

“It’s a protest, it’s for everybody, right? So we’re allowed to be here. Everyone’s here for different reasons, we’re just out here to support Donald Trump because all these events tend to turn into Anti-Trump events, a lot of them,” said David Feiner, another Trump supporter.

Police officers and yellow tape surrounded the pro-Trump counter protestors as they stood outside the LAPD Building. Sergeant James Baker of the LAPD said, “We’re here to make sure that both sides express themselves — that’s a First Amendment right — and it’s grouped so that no physical violence can occur.”

“We’re not here to suppress anyone’s freedom of speech, we’re here to support it and to keep the peace,” Baker said.

“There’s been an anti-science undercurrent for a long time, but it’s really come to a head. And it’s time to listen to the science, it’s time to listen to the facts. Facts are facts, there are no alternative facts. The truth is the truth and science is the best way to understand the truth,” organizer Philip Wheeler said.