The Philly Science Community is Fighting Back Against Attacks on Diversity
By Amanda Rabinowitz Ph.D. and Amanda Therrien Ph.D.
Science should be a force for truth, progress, and the public good. But today, it is under attack.
Under the Trump administration, we are watching an unprecedented assault on scientific integrity, academic freedom, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
DEI is just one front in a much broader assault on the scientific enterprise, but it is a critical one. Science is the pursuit of truth, and the effort to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion from our institutions doesn’t just limit who gets to participate—it distorts what we know. It erases the contributions of scientists from marginalized communities—those who overcame systemic barriers to advance knowledge. It suppresses truth, silences entire fields of study, and turns the fruits of scientific discovery—innovations, treatments, and technologies—into tools of oppression rather than instruments of the public good.
The administration has levied its assault using Executive Orders (EOs), the legality of which is a subject of debate (source). The U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws protect both equal opportunity and antidiscrimination rights. Presidential EOs cannot change that. Thus, Institutions (so far) retain the right to simply say no and many have, albeit quietly.
Yet, the University of Pennsylvania voluntarily dismantled DEI initiatives and scrubbed mention of DEI from university websites in February, despite having no legal obligation, making it one of the first institutions to do so (sources 1, 2). Other universities, including the University of Michigan (source), have since followed suit, wiping mentions of DEI from their communications and gutting associated programs in an apparent effort to appease political pressure.
And for what? Penn still found itself in the crosshairs. Just a month later, the university was slapped with $175 million in federal funding freezes–punishment for some of the very DEI policies it was already rolling back (source). As scientists, we have been trained to follow the evidence, and the evidence here is clear: capitulation does not guarantee safety. Instead, it emboldens further attacks. Institutions that rush to comply are not shielding themselves; they are only making it easier for the next demand to come.
A different approach is needed. Philadelphia’s higher education institutions should use their privilege and power in the region to stand up to the administration’s bullying. Fight back.
We are Philly Science Action—a grassroots movement dedicated to defending science from censorship and authoritarian influence, championing inclusivity in research, and ensuring that science serves the public good for all. We call on Philadelphia’s institutions to take a public stand.
We launched a petition urging Philadelphia’s major scientific and medical institutions to reaffirm their commitment to DEI initiatives. Over 550 faculty, researchers, students, healthcare professionals, and community members have signed on, demanding that universities reject federal rollbacks and continue investing in programs that advance equity in science and medicine.
The ask is simple. Do not surrender in anticipation—hold firm to your values. Publicly assure Philly-area students, faculty, and the community that you stand with us and will resist political pressure to abandon the most vulnerable among us. Not just because the evidence shows that capitulation fails, but because it is the right thing to do.
On April 5th, as part of a National Day of Action (The Hands Off Rally sponsored by 50501 and Indivisible, with events throughout the greater Philadelphia Area), we are mailing hard copies of this petition to local institutions, making it clear that the Philadelphia scientific community will not stand for this erosion of our values. We will not allow Trump, Elon Musk, or any political forces to seize control of academia and reshape it into a tool of exclusion and suppression.
This fight is bigger than science. It is about who controls knowledge, whose voices are heard, and whose futures are valued. We’ve witnessed the dangers of unchecked power, and we refuse to let the American scientific community be hollowed out and become a tool of an authoritarian regime.
Join us in The Commons at The Academy of Natural Sciences at 10:30 AM on April 5th as we rally for action. We'll march to Philadelphia City Hall for the main rally at noon. The stakes are too high to stay silent.
About the Authors:
Dr. Amanda Rabinowitz is a brain injury neuropsychologist, and Dr. Amanda Therrien is a neuroscientist studying human movement control. Both are members of the leadership team at Philadelphia Science Action.