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Michelle Merrill, PhD

@perplexedprimate.bsky.social
440 followers 783 following 147 posts

organizing with Scientist Rebellion Turtle Island, recovering academic who worked on Higher Ed for Sustainability, anthropology, behavioral ecology, evolution, social learning

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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
@stopmoneypipeline.bsky.social, @xrsfbay.bsky.social and @srti.bsky.social have lots of great ideas about how to go after the banks and financial companies that continue investing in the expansion of fossil fuels. Here are some pix
Protesters hold banner outside Wells Fargo offices in San Francisco. Banner says The People vs Wells Fargo - Stop Banking on Climate Disaster, with a red oil can that says Funding Fossil Fuels, and an image of the Earth within a house on fire. No DAPL protest, 23 July 2025 - photo by Leon KunstenaarProtesters stand outside Chase bank branch in Santa Cruz,CA with signs, including a large banner with an oil pipe spilling out from the Chase logo, reading Chase Stop Banking on Fossil FuelsScientist Rebellion protesters in labcoats hold a banner that reads The Science is Clear, showing the climate stripes transitioning from blue to red across the years. A young woman holds a megaphone to speak in front of the banner. This was part of Summer of Heat outside the Citibank headquarters in New York, 12 June 2024.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Call Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841. Say "Hi, my name is ________ and I'm a resident of [your city]. I'm calling to urge you to tell your CARB appointees to vote no on the cap and invest proposal. The proposal gives billions to oil companies and guts funding for... 2/4
Rally at San Francisco Civic Center telling CARB to reject changes to Cap-and-Invest, maintain funding for transit, and don't give new handouts to Big Oil.hand holding slip of paper that reads
Save transit, affordable housing, and clean air program! Call Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841. Say "Hi, my name is ________ and I'm a resident of [your city]. I'm calling to urge you to tell your CARB appointees to vote no on the cap and invest proposal. The proposal gives billions to oil companies and guts funding for public transit, affordable housing, and clean air and clean water programs. This matters to me because [speak from your heart about why you personally care]. Thank you."
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Joined rally in #SanFrancisco with @carterlavin.bsky.social of @transbaycoalition.bsky.social, calling ‪@governor.ca.gov‬ to demand @airresources.bsky.social rejects changes that would take $ away from #Transit, #AffordableHousing, #CleanAir and #CleanWater, and put it in the pockets of #BigOil. 1/4
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Call Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841. Say "Hi, my name is ________ and I'm a resident of [your city]. I'm calling to urge you to tell your CARB appointees to vote no on the cap and invest proposal. The proposal gives billions to oil companies and guts funding for... 2/4
Rally at San Francisco Civic Center telling CARB to reject changes to Cap-and-Invest, maintain funding for transit, and don't give new handouts to Big Oil.hand holding slip of paper that reads
Save transit, affordable housing, and clean air program! Call Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841. Say "Hi, my name is ________ and I'm a resident of [your city]. I'm calling to urge you to tell your CARB appointees to vote no on the cap and invest proposal. The proposal gives billions to oil companies and guts funding for public transit, affordable housing, and clean air and clean water programs. This matters to me because [speak from your heart about why you personally care]. Thank you."
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
A video with our climate contingent, looking around #SanJose City Hall after the #MayDay march.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
More scenes from #MayDay2026 in San José, with the Make Polluters Pay contingent. @srti.bsky.social @polluterspay.bsky.social #MayDay #MakePollutersPay
A marching crowd arrives at the street in front of San Jose City Hall. Two orange pre-printed signs that say Big Oil Funds Fascism are visible in the crowd. There is a parade truck with butterfly-shaped signs on its side. A TV cameraman stands in the foreground.
Photo by Alfred Leung via probonophoto.orgA crowd is gathered under the arched ring lights in front of of San Jose City Hall. A woman in a black-and-purple Make Polluters Pay shirt holds a pre-printed orange sign that say Big Oil Funds Fascism. Another woman in a labcoat behind her holds a similar sign, plus a blue pre-printed sign that says Just Transition Ahead. Another woman holds a similar orange sign. Next to them is a woman with a green sign that reads Democracy Is Our Superpower. On a nearby platform a man is standing holding a large sign with a lot of smaller text that concludes Stop the War. Behind him is a sign that says No War, No Empire, No Occupation; this sign is affixed to a flagpole with an American flag where the stars are replaced by various corporate logos and above that an Earth flag.
Photo by Alfred Leung via probonophoto.orgFour women smile for the camera. Three are wearing hats. One is wearing a Scientist Rebellion labcoat. Another wears a green shirt that says Not My President. Behind them are signs that say Billionaires Rig the System and Just Transition Ahead.

Photo by M. MerrillA woman in a white and purple Make Polluters Pay T-shirt stands to one side of a mock-up black prison cage, containing puppets labeled Thiel and Musk. Off the side of the cage is another puppet resembling former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The woman is extending her middle finger at Thiel, just out of sight of a boy who is also looking at this display in front of San Jose City Hall.
Photo by Mimi S.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Some scenes from May Day 2026 in #SanJose, with friends as a climate contingent for the rally and march. @srti.bsky.social @polluterspay.bsky.social #MayDay #MakePollutersPay
Four people getting ready to join the rally, holding brightly colored pre-printed signs that read Just Transition Ahead and Billionaires Rig the System. Another has a black and white sign that says People United, overlayed with another bright orange sign that says Big Oil Funds Fascism.Protester in a Scientist Rebellion lab coat holds a blue pre-printed sign that says Just Transition Ahead. Other protesters hold similar orange signs that read Big Oil Funds Fascism and Billionaires Rig the System. Another protester has a home-made sign that says If you don't use your voice, someone else will use your silence. Several others gather in the plaza behind them.
Photo by Alfred Leung via probonophoto.orgProtesters marching in the street. In the foreground, one carries pre-printed orange signs that say Big Oil Funds Fascism. Another has a black and white sign that says People United, overlayed with another bright orange sign that says Big Oil Funds Fascism. A blue pre-printed sign that says Just Transition Ahead is just visible farther in the background. Other signs say General Strike and Stop the War on Iran. 
Photo by Alfred Leung via probonophoto.orgMarching protesters fill the street. In the foreground is one sign that says No ICE in San José, No Deportations. Behind them is a large banner that says Abolish ICE. In the background is a woman in a Scientist Rebellion lab coat holds a blue pre-printed sign that says Just Transition Ahead above an orange sign that says Billionaires Rig the System.
Photo by Alfred Leung via probonophoto.org
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Trump wants to drill in beautiful public places like here at Quarry Lakes in Fremont, CA. I’m joining the resistance and sent my comment to their plan to protect these lands for all of us. Submit your comment ASAP - bit.ly/DontDrillMySpot @oilgasaction.bsky.social @srti.bsky.social #NatureNotOil
Michelle in Scientist Rebellion labcoat, with small terrier, holding a sign that reads Protect this land from Trump & Big Oil, in front of a small lake at Quarry Lakes Regional Rec. Area in Fremont, CA.Michelle in Scientist Rebellion labcoat, in a T-shirt reading End Oil Drilling in California, holding a sign that reads No Drilling on Stolen Native Land, in front of a small lake at Quarry Lakes Regional Rec. Area in Fremont, CA.A bulletin board at Quarry Lakes Regional Rec. Area in Fremont, CA. Affixed to it is a flyer headlined The Land You're Standing On Is In Danger, with an image of an oil drill, some smaller text, and a QR code.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Glad to stand with, speak to, and chant alongside so many great activists in #SanJose for the #freeamericawalkout , resisting violent, anti-science authoritarianism rising in USA. @srti.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social photos by @zdlovett.bsky.social #freeamericafromfascism #womensmarch
A line of protesters on E Santa Clara Street, San Jose City Hall. One in a labcoat. Some carrying US flags. Many carrying signs.Michelle in a Scientist Rebellion labcoat speaks to the crowd at a rally at San Jose City Hall.  Some demonstrators carrying US flags. Many carrying signs, including "No Kings" and "Save Democracy from Trump."A rally of about 200 gathers at San Jose City Hall, in front of Janet Gray Hayes. One in a labcoat.  Many protesters carrying signs or flags.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
My 🥼 friends in @srti.bsky.social marched behind the Fascism Runs on Fossil Fuels banner, with signs that read Trust Science Not Dictators! #DontSilenceScience
Banner Fascism Runs on Fossil Fuels, and signs Trust Science Not Dictators,  and Dictators Fear Science
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Great teamwork from @srti.bsky.social added some truth to #Tesla on Van Ness in #SanFrancisco this evening. #TeslaTakedown #StopBillionaires
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
We will keep showing up until you really change, #HellsFargo.
Protesters in front of a stagecoach, holding signs listing many of the environmentally destructive and colonially exploitive projects financed by Wells Fargo.  San Francisco, Feb 2024Protesters gather outside Wells Fargo HQ in San Francisco, July 2025. A banner reads Wells Fargo Stop Funding Genocide. A colorful street mural echoes the accusation.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Looking forward to our big Scientists Speak Out! event in Oakland tomorrow! actionnetwork.org/events/scien... @srti.bsky.social @scientistrebellion.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social @stopbillionaires.bsky.social
scientist rebellion turtle island
Scientists Speak Out Rally + Teach-In
July 19, 1-4pm
Lake Merritt Amphitheater

*Climate, Heat & Health
*Attacks on Science and Democracy
*Movement Building & Activism
*Music & Street Theater
*Art & Fun Activites!
Lake Merritt BART station
Bring a hat, water, maybe a chair
Family Friendly
ADA accessible
SRTurtleIsland.org/stop-billionaires-summer
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
When did being a student, a husband, and a new dad become a threat? ICE says Mahmoud Khalil doesn’t deserve compassion. We say: let him go. #DisappearedinAmerica #KeepFamiliesTogether #ProtectDueProcess #AbductedByTrump
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
When we fight, we win!
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
With @srti.bsky.social friends at the #DayofActionforHigherEd at University of California Berkeley Sproul Plaza, celebrating the Free Speech Movement! #HandsOffHigherEd #FreePublicEducation #universities
Three in Scientist Rebellion labcoats at a large gathering. One carries a sign that says UC Berkeley: Freedom to speak. Freedom to teach. Freedom to learn. For Everyone!
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Wells Fargo has a bad reputation when it comes to climate. The @americanredcross.bsky.social helps victims of climate disasters. So we were shocked to learn that they gave a "climate crisis visionary partner" to #WellsFracko #redcrossgalasf actionnetwork.org/petitions/re... @srti.bsky.social
Red Cross Must Take Back Award Given to Climate Criminal Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo’s financing of fossil fuels makes them climate criminals, not “visionaries”
Three protesters holding signs outside the Wells Fargo Gala in San Francisco
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Time to mail those postcards for #TheIdesOfTrump I was particularly pleased to be able to send him to... er, send him pictures, of the former prison at Alcatraz. Just felt fitting somehow, and seemed to influence my writing choices.
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Michelle Merrill, PhD @perplexedprimate.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
"The city is officially fully booked for private jets over Super Bowl weekend" nypost.com/2024/01/29/sports/super-bowl-lxviii-las-vegas-private-jet-parking-is-sold-out/ Billionaires fly while the billions fry 😡 @srti.bsky.social @banprivatejets.dk #SuperGHGbowl #BanPrivateJets #flyless
There they go! with stats fro CelebrityPrivateJetTracker.com of some of the recent flights.
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