Stand Up for Science rally drew hundreds of protesters in Pittsburgh

FACE OUR FEARS: Science is under attack

Another week, another mass protest — not just in Pittsburgh, PA — but around the nation as people stood up against fascism and in support of democracy. (I can’t believe I just had to write that).

I have been covering these protests and rallies to document what is happening around my own city and how it fits into the larger context of the growing movement to call out authoritarianism and stand in solidarity against the oligarchy trying to take root in our communities.

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Here in my hometown, 50501 Pittsburgh organized a rally at Schenley Plaza in Oakland on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Professors, graduate students, community members and elected officials shared their concerns for what we are experiencing and ways we can fight back.

ON KIDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE:

Dr. Gabe Cisneros, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and medical director of UPMC Children’s Express Care – Lawrenceville and co-chair of the Pennsylvania American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee, spoke on the impact that climate change is having on our children’s health and the need for this current administration to take these threats seriously as they impact both the environment and our kids’ health.

“Climate change affects children more than any other age group and they rely on us adults to provide them safety. With climate change we see an increase in diseases spread by ticks and mosquitos. It didn’t use to be that way… We tell kids to go play outside. Well, it’s hard to play outside when it is 90 degrees and humid and there’s ticks everywhere and high pollen levels and air pollution from wildfires.

“…It’s affecting their mental health. Most kids — according to a study in the Lancet — in the United States worry about climate change and 25% say it impacts their function and they feel betrayed by their government. Our kids deserve better.”

ON SCIENCE & STANDING UP: Students with Stand Up for Science Pittsburgh

A.J., a Neuroscience PhD student at University of Pittsburgh: “I grew up surrounded by degenerative disease. At the age of 25, I am the oldest person in my family because of how little we still know about diseases. When I think of my experience as a grad student under the Trump administration, only one word comes to mind: Fear.

“I fear doing too little and sitting quietly by while this administration punishes scientists and defunds research. As they slash Medicaid, the EPA, the Parks Department, as people die unnecessarily in labor camps or by preventable diseases.

“I fear drawing attention to myself and making myself a target. That years of hard work will be stripped away… But fascism thrives and feeds on your fear and belief that if we keep our heads down and stick to the fringes, support but not disrupt, we will survive as individuals. This is false… We are only three months into Trump’s term. What will the demands of year four look like if we capitulate now?”

Lainey, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University and was an undergrad student at MIT:

Lainey had a whole host of quotable moments worth sharing but what I want to note from her speech was the unsettling story she shared about her experience being surrounded by the University of Pittsburgh police just a few days prior to this rally.

“I’m livid that those most affected by those policies are those at most risk for speaking out against them. And I’m livid at the policies that have confined student activism to the ‘proper channels’ in the name of safety when what they’ve really done is killed any protections for students to protest this administration and killed the student activism that has always kept this nation in check.

“This just happened to me two days ago where I joined two of my friends on the University of Pittsburgh lawn to hold an outdoor game day to raise awareness for garmets’ workers rights. As political causes go, it’s a pretty noncontroversial one… This is about building community and engagement… It was not a protest. There was maybe 12 people present playing volleyball and eating snacks.

“Suddenly, a University of Pittsburgh police officer walked over and insisted that we were in violation of University policy for displaying one cardboard sign with a political message.

“We were sure there was no such policy, so we politely asked him which rule he was referring to. He refused to tell us and demanded we get rid of it — took our IDs — took down our names and called over the course of 15 minutes, six other ARMED police officers to surround us, three students, standing still and holding a cardboard sign. They said they did this in the name of safety, but there is nothing safe about that.

“Eventually, they called their supervisor and she came over. She informed us that we did nothing wrong and were free to stay and told the slightly embarrassed police officers to disperse.”

REALITY CHECK: “We are losing our voices and we have to win them back.”