By Lisa Woolfson

“More science, less fear, evidence is welcome here.”

“What do we want?” “Science.” “When do we want it?” “After peer review.”

These chants and others were heard along the Washington Monument April 14 before the March for Science.

The event marked the second national March for Science, which had a large turnout, but not as many people as last year. The main event was in Washington, but there were satellite events across the country, and even the world.

People gathered from all over holding up signs that read “Science not silence,” “There is no Planet B” and more

Katie Taylor, who was with the organization “Defenders of Wildlife,” which protects endangered species, said “I think it [the march] will just keep the fire alive in terms of keeping people excited about science.”

People hung out on the grass near the Capitol listening to speakers and singers alike before the march started. One of the speakers included Little Miss Flint (Mari Copeny), a 10-year-old Flint, Michigan, native, who spoke about the water crisis in the area.

Another speaker, Rev. Yearwood yelled from the stage, “This is not about Democrat or Republican, this is about humanity!”

One man who stood out in the crowd, Sean Raftery, wore a “Make America Great Again” hat while holding up a poster that read, “Give Peace A Chance.”

“Not everyone who’s wearing this hat is a stereotype. Not everyone who voted for the president is a stereotype,” he said. “Regime change doesn’t work and I’m not going to just sit over on the side and let it happen again without making my own, admittedly ineffectual contribution to making a stink.”

A little after 3 p.m., the actual march began. People held their posters up high and marched from the Monument to Third street between Madison and Jefferson drives. People mostly marched quietly, letting their posters do most of the talking.

Eileen Walsh, a science teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, said, “I’m here because science is important. We’re making too many public decisions that are not based on evidence and based on reasonable thinking, and that needs to change.”

People of all ages, ethnicities and locations marched through the streets of D.C., but they all had one thing in common: a love for science.

Featured Photo Credit: Participants holding a sign during the March for Science on April 15, 2018 (Lisa Woolfson/Bloc Photographer).

Lisa Woolfson is a sophomore journalism and government and politics major and can be reached at lisasamw@gmail.com.