Democratic lawmakers and activists cheered Earth Day in rainy Washington, D.C., on Saturday at the “March for Science.”
Organizers of the event told the Washington Examiner‘s Robert King that the march would not function as an anti-Trump demonstration, but many of President Trump’s vocal critics made their voices heard via the march anyway.
“Science is the pursuit of truth for the public interest,” tweeted Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, former Democratic Party vice presidential candidate in 2016. “Pres Trump can’t dismiss this fact, or all those marching today #MarchForScience.”
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy trained his sights on the government in a message on Twitter saying, “Gutting #EPA science & clean air & water rules comes from cynical KNOW-NOTHING, ANTI-SCIENCE leadership. #EarthDay #ScienceMarch.”
Other prominent liberals struck a tone more closely dictated by the day’s events in their comments on Saturday.
Failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tweeted, “Happy #EarthDay, and thanks to math and science for all you’ve given us! March on!”
David Axelrod, a chief strategist to former President Barack Obama, did not mention Trump when tweeting about the march.
“Science can help solve our greatest challenges—or destroy mankind,” Axelrod tweeted on Saturday. “We can harness it for good, or ignore it at our peril. #MarchForScience.”
Bill Nye, a television personality who enjoys talking about science, rallied the scientists and activists gathered in Washington.
“We are marching today to remind people everywhere, our lawmakers especially, of the significance of science,” Nye said onstage near the National Mall in D.C.
Other rallies and demonstrations occurred in cities across the country and around the world.
