Scientists don't do a lot of marching.    

For one thing, many of us are introverts. I have to make myself walk up to people I don't know, even to talk about a public event like next week's panel on carbon dividends. I split the difference by mostly targeting people I've already met in some other context, or who were carrying climate signs.   

My own sign was just a front-and-back flyer on a stick. I was too broke for handouts.    

Most people were perfectly happy to snap a picture and capture the link. If they weren't, I just gave them one of my business cards. We'll see whether any of that increases our attendance next week, but at the very least I may have recruited a few speakers for future sessions. So that's good.   

For another thing, data-driven scientists prefer tactics that work, and if you've read Micah White's book The End of Protest, you're aware that the people in office are no longer intimidated by peaceful protests. He has the stats to prove it. Time after time, record-breaking crowds make zero difference to policy. Hell, they make money selling permits to protest. And all the downtown restaurants are full for a day. It's like any other tourist event.   

Except for a pretty funny song about Elizabeth Warren, there were exactly two moments of drama during today's protest, both of them the result of other groups trying to hijack the moment. Councilwoman Nancy Hoffman, there to talk up the city's sustainability efforts, was heckled with calls to “release the tapes!” which refers to some body-camera footage of a policeman allegedly choking a minor.  And some white girl from Black Lives Matter took over the mike for a few minutes, until she was shouted down by the crowd.    

+MW points for surprise, -MW points for alienating your allies.   

I personally fall more on the side of Indivisible and 314 Action. Their insider experience shows that marching and petitions (which can be ignored) are less effective than e-mails (which can be deleted with minimal effort), which are less effective than phone calls (which by law have to be officially logged), which are less effective than physical face time. Since scientists can't afford paid lobbyists, I don't think things are going to change much until scientists are in office. That's the leverage point.   

As a first introductory step, though, bravo March!