Standing Up for Science: A Rally Participant’s Perspective

Rallying for Science in Washington, DC

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This past Friday, March 7, 2025, I stood among a sea of advocates, researchers, health care professionals, and concerned citizens at a rally in Washington, DC. We gathered not just to chant slogans but to take a stand for something fundamental: preserving science-based policies that safeguard public health, fuel medical advancements, and drive innovation.

Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, and her family at the Stand Up for Science in Washington, DC.

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Ours was just one of many rallies held across the nation, as people from coast to coast came together to voice their support for science. The collective energy of these nationwide demonstrations sent a powerful message: The fight for science is not isolated to 1 city or group; it is a movement that spans the entire country.

As someone deeply invested in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, I felt the weight of the moment as I stood in solidarity with my colleagues. The signs people carried spoke volumes: “Cutting NIH (National Institutes of Health) funds will NOT make America Healthy Again,” “Science will not be silenced,” and “Literally just over here trying to cure multiple sclerosis.” These messages, both humorous and poignant, reflected a community frustrated by recent government actions threatening scientific progress.

Rally goer at the Stand Up for Science Rally in Washington, DC.

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The speeches delivered that day were passionate and urgent. One speaker reminded us that the US Constitution explicitly calls for promoting science, emphasizing that scientific discovery has propelled our nation to global leadership. “But today, the very institutions that have made such progress possible, the NIH and CDC, are facing drastic cuts, political interference, and even outright censorship.”

Michael Mann, PHD, MS, MPhil, a renowned climatologist, described the growing hostility toward scientists who speak inconvenient truths. He warned of the normalization of antiscience rhetoric, the banning of federally funded research, and the chilling effect on those who dare to push back.

Rally goers at the Stand Up for Science Rally in Washington, DC.

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Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Jr, of Maryland’s 8^th Congressional District, said it perfectly when he stated, “We know when we defend science, we defend the health and welfare of the American people.”

But my absolute favorite speaker took me back to my third-grade classroom, watching a show that first made me fall in love with science. Bill Nye the Science Guy took the podium to show his support for science and policies that support scientific research. He reminded us that the Constitution protects scientific progress in Article 1, Section 8, where it states that Congress shall promote the progress of science and useful arts to solve problems and make new things.

Rally goers at the Stand Up for Science Rally in Washington, DC.

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He emboldened us to insist to our lawmakers that they, too, stand up for science and not cower in fear. He said, “Our Founders embraced the idea that by promoting science and engineering, our citizens would be free to do research and to innovate, which would in turn stimulate the economy, help us compete in the world stage, and keep us safe, ultimately improving the lives of all citizens.”

Nye's message was that science must not be censored, data must be shared, and safeguards must be in place to prevent political interference in the important life-saving research taking place in our nation.

Among the crowd, I met Maria, who works for a company that collaborates with the NIH. She proudly held up her sign that read “Infectious diseases don’t take a break.” Beside her stood her sister, Reland, a breast cancer survivor who credits science for saving her life. Attending with her wife, Tori, Reland held a vibrantly pink sign that read “Science saved my life.” Their presence at the rally was a powerful reminder that scientific research isn’t just about data points—It’s about people’s lives.

The message from Friday’s rally was clear: We must protect scientific integrity and ensure that research remains in the hands of scientists, not political agendas. Advocacy cannot stop here. We must call upon our representatives, show up at town halls, and demand that science remains at the forefront of policy decisions. The future of public health—and our nation—depends on it.

Another woman asked to remain anonymous and held a sign reading “Got the plague? Me neither. Thanks, science!” She confided to me that funding cuts had already affected aspects of her and others’ work but hesitated to share details, reflecting a broader concern about potential repercussions for speaking out.

The rally underscored a growing fear—science is being politicized, and those who rely on it most are being silenced. When funding is stripped from medical research, we do not just slow down progress; we actively endanger lives. Clinical trials are halted, life-saving treatments are delayed, and public health measures are undermined.

Yet, the energy in the crowd was not one of defeat. People chanted, raised their signs high, and vowed to fight back. The words of Greg O’Brien, a journalist battling Alzheimer’s, resonated deeply: “Without adequate funding for medical research, we lose our soul as a nation.” Science is not partisan. It is not a luxury. It is the foundation upon which public health, disease prevention, and innovation rest.

Rally goers at the Stand Up for Science Rally in Washington, DC.

(Image credit: Author)

I was blessed to be flanked by my family at this rally. I watched with tears as my 10-year-old son jumped up and down chanting, “Science! Science! Science!” He skipped along the shore of the reflecting pool on his way to the rally, shouting, “Science is the best!”

My oldest pointedly asked me, “Mom, do you think they’ll listen to us? Do you think we’ll be able to make a change?”

I responded honestly, “I don’t know, buddy. But I do know this. If nothing changes, we’ll keep fighting. Because this is important.”

I impressed upon my children on this day that when we believe so deeply in something, we stand up and fight for it. So, if those in power do not listen to the people, we will get louder. We will continue to stand up for our constitutional right to progress science.

The message from Friday’s rally was clear: We must protect scientific integrity and ensure that research remains in the hands of scientists, not political agendas. Advocacy cannot stop here. We must call upon our representatives, show up at town halls, and demand that science remains at the forefront of policy decisions. The future of public health—and our nation—depends on it.