Steps toward awareness
Marches will focus on science, climate change
In the first three months of President Donald Trump’s administration, protesters have gathered to oppose his policies on women, immigration, health care and to demand he release his tax returns.
Now the focus is turning to science and climate change. For the next two weekends, in South Florida and across the country, marches are planned to focus attention on those issues.
“Taking back politics doesn’t just happen in Washington. It happens right here in Plantation, right here in Fort Lauderdale, right here in West Palm,” said Augusto Yamasaki, founder and chairman of a group called Project Rise Up. “Here at home is where we need to fight the fights.”
The science marches are today, which is Earth Day, withmore than 400 events. The climate marches are on April 29, which is Trump’s 100th day inoffice. More than 250 events are planned for that day.
“With sea levels rising and severe flooding on sunny days, our region is already facing the effects of climate change. Particularly in South Florida, we should be
marking Earth Day by highlighting best practices for fighting climate change and learning how we can all live in a more sustainable manner,” U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch said by email.
Deutch, a Democrat who represents most of Broward and southeastern Palm Beach County, is slated to speak at a Fort Lauderdale climate event. He is cochairman of the bipartisan congressional Climate Solutions Task Force.
Climate change is also a central issue for Tim Canova, who is speaking at climate and science marches in Broward and MiamiDade counties.
“Climate change is a global challenge. Here in South Florida, it is not simply a theoretical problem, but a very real growing threat to our homes, businesses and neighborhoods. We already see the erosion of our seawalls, corrosion of critical infrastructure, and saltwater intruding into the aquifers we rely on for drinking water,” he said. “And when you’re talking about climate change, you’re dealing with science.” Canova, a professor of law and public finance at Nova Southeastern University, unsuccessfully ran for Congress last year as a Democrat and now heads the Progress for All political group.
The events are also attracting new people to activism who said they’re energized — and outraged — by the Trump presidency.
Yamasaki, 25, of Plantation, who is a science march organizer, said Trump helps mobilize people to oppose his agenda when he signs executive orders, hires climate science skeptics or tweets angry messages. “It’s disheartening to see all the things go the way they’re going. But it’s inspiring to see the reactions he said.
And Rob Figueroa, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, a climate march organizer, said a “Trump effect” is creating interest. “You have people whoare finally getting motivated because of the assault that’s happening on our environment due to this presidency,” he said. “The urgency has forced us to take action.”
Deutch and Canova are both Trump critics. And Yamasaki and Figueroa both participated in April 15 demonstrations calling on Trump to release his income tax returns.
ButTer ric Dawn Kim ball, 42, of Loxahatchee is taking a different approach to the science march she’s organizing in West Palm Beach.
“In the current political climate, science is taking a back seat,” she said, adding that Trumpisn’t the focus of the first of two West Palm Beach science marches at the Meyer Amphitheatre.
“It’s a nonpartisan event. We’ve invited Trump supporters. We have people from all political arenas that all care about science. Because you can be a Trump supporter and still care about science,” she said. “Yelling and screaming about Trump is not going to change anybody’s heart, it’s not going to open anybody’s eyes. It’s not going to get through to anybody.”
The second march, at Dreher Park, has more of a Trump focus. According to its Facebook page, there are plans to march toward the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.
Fort Lauderdale science and climate march organizers said they want people to come to both events on successive Saturdays. “We really want to make sure people come to both,” Figueroa said. “There’s no competition. There is no animosity.”