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Earth Day picked as date for science march on Washington

Story highlights
  • The idea for the march was conceived on social media
  • Organizers want it to be a nonpartisan protest

(CNN) Just like protesters who have taken to the streets and airports -- for the Women's March and against the travel ban -- scientists are planning their own march.

The group behind the March for Science in Washington just announced in a tweet that they will rally on April 22 -- Earth Day.

The march, born on social media -- through an idea floated in a Reddit thread and then followed up with organizing on Twitter, Facebook, and a Google form -- has gained a following of hundreds of thousands online.

Organizers want the march to be a nonpartisan protest that champion support and funding for science, science-based policy and diversity. They're worried about the new administration's stance on climate change, energy policy and other issues.

This man in a space suit has a message: Go march for science

"The march for science champions publicly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and democracy," the group's website reads.

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