Concerns over the coronavirus have prompted the Colorado Education Association to cancel its Day of Action at the Colorado State Capitol later this month.
The annual protest typically brings hundreds of Colorado teachers to Denver as they collectively push for higher wages and increased school funding among other educational issues.
Denver Public Schools and Jeffco Public Schools, among other school districts, had announced that classes would be canceled on March 19 because of the popular Day of Action.
Mounting public health concerns over the spreading of the cornoavirus, however, has lead to cancellation of the event.
“Be assured this difficult decision was made out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety and welfare of our students, members and families,” said CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor, in a written statement. “We closely monitored guidance from health officials at the federal and state level throughout this process. Though no official guidance was given to us to restrict public gatherings such as our Day of Action, we don’t want to contribute in any way to the anxiety people are experiencing during this troubling health crisis.”
More than 5,000 educators and public education supporters were expected to attend this year, according to the CEA.