Hundreds of scientists, graduate students, professors, and science aficionados gathered in front of the State Capitol on Friday, March 7, to protest President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions targeting federal funds towards scientific research.

A part of a larger movement under the same name, “Stand Up For Science,” called for folks across the nation to show their appreciation of science and its benefits to society as calls to defund government research continue to rise.

The Trump Administration has made efforts to freeze federal funding, effectively bringing all government-funded scientific research to a halt. In addition, mass dismissals of federal employees and attempts to halt future funding leave those working on American scientific research concerned, angry and fearful for the future of their field.

UC Davis Neuroscientist Dr. Theanne Griffith was one of the main organizers for the Sacramento rally, with her motivation for getting involved stemming from her concern about the future of her ability to conduct the research she specializes in.

“I feel betrayed by our leaders who are trying to decimate the scientific infrastructure of this country,” Griffith told the crowd on Friday. “Our country is excellent because of scientific innovation. I feel betrayed by some of our leaders who are not doing enough, who are not standing up and being vocal enough.”

Friday’s rally was filled with speakers from a wide breadth of professions — from doctors, researchers, professors, elected officials and concerned citizens, the general consensus was people are scared for the future of American scientific innovation.

James Fraser, a professor at UC San Francisco, drove down from the Bay Area to Sacramento for the Friday rally. He said throughout his time being a professor, he’s learned science isn’t something that occurs in the vacuum of a laboratory. It happens in hospitals, in classrooms and in working in collaboration with other subject areas outside of traditional scientific processes.

All scientific discoveries and advancements, according to Fraser, are almost always made by researchers who receive funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This department has recently been the target of funding cuts and freezes, which has put millions of dollars’ worth of research at risk.

“Predictable funding from the NIH keeps the United States at the forefront of discovery. Predictable funding and a constant, evolving process has ensured that we are the world leader in medicine, technology and innovation,” Fraser shared. “The NIH, the National Science Foundation, the NSF, the national labs and our amazing biotech industry are the envy of the world. I moved here from Canada 20 years ago. Why? Because American science is so amazing — our scientific enterprise is one of the things that makes me most proud to be an American citizen.”

Elected officials also gave their own remarks during Friday’s rally. City of Davis Mayor Bapu Vaitla spoke on how scientists are crucial to finding real, truth-filled solutions to issues plaguing the country’s health and livelihood. According to him, scientists are the storytellers in the tale of nature, and the current administration is aiming to erase all of the work scientists have spent decades of research and testing.

“The story that you’re telling is the greatest story that there is,” Vaitla said. “It’s the story how of how each of us have the immense good fortune to be in these marvelous bodies and minds of ours. It’s the story of how these bodies are connected to all other living beings.”

Assembly Majority Leader and Yolo County State Representative Cecilia Aguiar-Curry addressed the crowd toward the end of the rally, sharing she had the same concerns the scientists gathered on Friday had.

“Every one of us here, we care about science — we care about health care in California’s future,” she shared. “With world class universities, top hospitals and some of the best scientists in the world, California is the leader in medical research and scientific innovation, but let’s face it, that leadership is at risk …

“California gets more NIH funding than any other state, over $4 billion, and as we know, that money funds new medical treatments for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, but if these cuts happen … we won’t just lose valuable research money — we’ll lose jobs and medical breakthroughs throughout that could save people throughout the world, for someone you love, a family member, public health programs, many which protect our most vulnerable citizens are also in danger. After everything we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing the last thing we should do is cut funding for public health.”

While there is a genuine sense of fear and anger from those in the scientific community, Griffith said seeing so many people come out to stand alongside her for science was uplifting and further contributed to the faith she has that science will prevail on the other side of these legislative attacks.

“I can tell by the crowd that we’ve gathered here that eyes are open, ears are listening. We might have felt safe — science has never been an issue before,” Griffith stated. “It’s been a bipartisan, supportive endeavor, because we know how important science is for our society. It feeds us. It provides cures for rare diseases or common diseases. It makes us better, but we have become awakened, because current leadership doesn’t seem to skew it that way.”