An estimated 1,000 people, including members of Northwood’s Environmental club and Northwood faculty, participated in the Fullerton March for Science on April 22.

The march was held as a peaceful protest of policies that marchers believed were denying established scientific knowledge. Held on Earth Day, many marchers participated to raise awareness of climate change, holding signs referencing sea levels rising and their opposition to Donald Trump’s environmental policies.

“I’m marching today because… I believe President Trump banning the [Environmental Protection Agency] and not believing in climate change is something that is critical to our future,” said senior Jasper Tsai, president of the Environmental club. “It’s going to affect all of us because this is our future; this is our planet and we need to protect it.”

The event began at 9 a.m. in front of the Fullerton City Hall, with speeches from prominent political leaders and scientists, including California State Senator Josh Newman. The 20-minute march started at 10 a.m., with protesters marching for 0.6 miles while chanting slogans like “Science won’t be silenced,” “Defiance for science” and “Fund science not war.” The demonstrations were over by 10:30 a.m.

While environmentalism was a major factor in the march, marchers also participated to support other science-related causes, including vaccination.

“We need to stand up for supporting vaccinations because some people in the government right now don’t believe in them,” Northwood science teacher and Environmental Club adviser Angie Olivares said. “[Because of vaccinations,] we didn’t grow up seeing people who died of mumps and measles or had issues with polio.”

The march held in Fullerton was one of about 600 satellite marches to the main Washington, D.C. March for Science, which boasted tens of thousands of protesters. Organizers of the rallies asserted that holding a march isn’t the end of their fight—it’s just the beginning of creating an organization centered around advocacy for science.

“It is important for people to continue to voice their opinions about science and the environment even when our government is fighting against them,” sophomore and Environmental club member Melinda Chiao said, “because we can make a difference in the world, all we have to do is stand up for what we think is right.”