OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite temperatures in the low 40s, a pro-science protest brought activists out to the Oklahoma State Capitol Saturday morning, bringing concerns of the scientific community to the forefront.
It was part of the national “Stand Up for Science” event that saw simultaneous pro-science rallies across the country. In OKC, the crowd was a mix of college students and science enthusiasts, with nearly 30 people showing up to support funding for scientific research and combat the rise of scientific misinformation in governmental policy.
Since retaking office in January of 2025, the Trump administration has reshaped scientific policy through a series of controversial, pseudo-scientific decisions aimed at vaccines, dietary health, and food regulations, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Researchers and labs throughout America have also been left confused and reeling through unpredictable funding and grant oversight, even in Oklahoma, as Free Press has reported:
According to a press release, the nationwide protest event was meant to “oppose the Trump/ RFK scientific agenda and demand scientific integrity, strong public health protections, and democratic accountability.”
“Scientists, researchers, students, and community members are taking to the streets in Oklahoma City because the Trump/ RFK attacks on science are endangering all of us,” said Colette Delawalla, founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science in a press statement.
‘Good decisions’
The only state official to speak at the event was Michelle McCane, the Democratic state representative for House District 72, serving Tulsa and Owasso.
“I think about the work we do in this building, and the work we’ve done historically,” McCane told the rally, “and [it has] not made good science decisions, from radioactive watch paint to leaded gas to lead paint, things we thought were just fine.”
She said one of the things we have to learn is to always “turn to science for information and knowledge” and “to confirm what we think or to debunk what we think.”
“It’s very important that you guys are here advocating that we continue to do so,” McCane continued. “It’s been proven over and over to do the scientific method, that it’s accurate. It’s the way we make good decisions that aren’t just about how I feel, which could be very different from everybody else.”
Jena Nelson, Democratic candidate for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District, was expected to speak at the rally, but did not attend.
Free Press reached out to Nelson’s campaign for comment, but has not received a response.
‘Real problems’
Before McCane, the morning’s first speaker was organizer Olivia Elias, an undergraduate student studying environmental sustainability and creative media production at the University of Oklahoma. She’s also involved with Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education.
“Not only are we the ones destroying Earth, but we are telling those who actually care that they shouldn’t be enraged, in tears, or fighting for what is right.” We just tell them they’re sensitive,” Elias said. “Our planet is dying. Our biological and cultural diversity is dying. You should be enraged, in tears, and fighting for what is right.”
Elias used her time speaking to criticize the nation’s billionaire class for not using their resources to protect and fund research, and to remind the small crowd about the importance of science in all areas of daily life.
“Our impact doesn’t stop at meteorology, bio-technology, or medicine,” she said. “At the University of Oklahoma, research spans fields like engineering, aerospace, and medicine, energy and data science. The discoveries happening in our labs help solve real problems.”
‘Dangerous developments’
Free Press was on hand to speak with attendees at the rally, such as David Wrenn, a retired social worker and member of a local astronomy club and a group that advocates for science education called Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE). OESE is how Wrenn found out about this rally.
“I think it is important to show that these Oklahoma citizens do care about science, and appreciate science,” he said, “despite the fact that just a mile down the road is a very large complex, the Oklahoma Health center, where a lot of important medical research is conducted.”
Wrenn shared concerns about growing rhetoric over recent years that has eroded trust in areas like vaccine development, leading to outbreaks in formerly well-controlled diseases like measles.
“Over the last year or so, we’ve seen not just the funding cuts, but very dangerous developments that seem to have come from the last 15 to 20 years,” Wrenn said. “We’ve seen major attacks on vaccines, for example.”
‘Good community’
Asked about what she thought caused the low turnout in OKC this year – compared to last year’s Stand Up for Science rally that saw a larger crowd in the dozens – Elias told Free Press that the morning cold likely kept some away, but also highlighted the resolve of those that showed up.
“I think the weather definitely affected it a little bit, I mean, yeah, that played a big part,” she said. “But I think we have a really good community. Even if there’s not that many people here, it still matters that people showed up. I’m not even 21 yet and this was my first time organizing a bigger event like this. So I think the fact that there are even this many people here is meaningful to me.”
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
