Temperatures were comfortable, and the sun was shining brightly as hundreds of people participated in the March For Science in Ypsilanti on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. The rally and march, hosted by Ypsi Huddle, and Michelle Deatrick of Michigan to Believe In, gathered in front of the Mark-Jefferson Science Complex building on the campus of Eastern Michigan University at 3:00 pm Saturday. Several hundred people were in attendance for the pre-march rally including many EMU students and faculty. Speakers at the pre-march rally in front of Mark-Jefferson included City council member Beth Bashert, EMU professor of Physics and Astronomy Patrick Koehn, UM Law Professor and counsel to the Detroit Mayor, Professor Eli Savit, and EMU student organizer Katherine Baker. Baker is a graduating senior with a BS in Biology.
The focus of the rally was to unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science to uphold the common good, and for political leaders and policymakers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest.
After the rally at EMU, demonstrators marched down Cross Street and into Riverside Park where marchers gathered in front of the gazebo. Several speakers addressed the roughly 300 demonstrators in Riverside Park including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (former Director of the Detroit Public Health Department & canidate for MI Governor) State Representative Ronnie Peterson, State Representative Yousef Rabhi, nurse and union leader Heather Roe, Michelle Regalado Deatrick (Farmer and environmental activist) and EMU Professor Ruth Ann Armitage, PH.D. from the Department of Chemistry.
Jeff Brown
editor & publisher
Purple Walrus Press
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March for Science in Ypsilanti Saturday April 22. Photos Purple Walrus Press.  |
Thanks for being there and covering the event!
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you so much for coming and reporting on the event!!!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Katie Baker