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By Michael Bastasch
The organization behind the “March for Science” tweeted the Trump administration’s bombing Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan is “an example of how science is weaponized against marginalized people.”
The march’s Twitter account sent out the tweet lamenting the bombing in reply to a post by activist Zellie Imani with the Black Liberation Collective — a group of students dedicated to “globe to bringing about freedom and liberation for all Black people.”
The “March for Science” is being organized by activist scientists and environmentalists opposed to the Trump administration’s policies and proposed cuts to federal agencies. The march is planned for D.C. on Earth Day April 22.
March organizers eventually deleted the tweet, but not before meteorologist Ryan Maue captured screenshots.
Flint's water system could cost $200m to repair fully. And the bomb just dropped on Afghanistan costs $300M. #45
— zellie (@zellieimani) April 13, 2017
Appears @ScienceMarchDC has deleted some Tweets. Maybe just delete the entire account to be safe. pic.twitter.com/LRmaF8b9ri
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) April 13, 2017
The U.S. military for the first time dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb on Islamic State, or ISIS, targets in Afghanistan Thursday.
The Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, struck an ISIS tunnel complex at 7:32 p.m. local time. A MOAB is 30 feet long and weighs about 20,000 pounds. It’s the first time the MOAB has been used in combat.
“Really another successful job,” Trump said of the strike Thursday. “We’re very, very proud of our military. We are so proud of our military and it was another successful event.”
Science march organizers have been racked by infighting over how much the event should emphasize diversity and gender issues. Some march leaders have resigned over such disagreements.
The “March for Science” started to gain traction in January, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes on Facebook. Major environmentalist and activist groups have backed the march, but sister marches are planned in other cities as well.
