Denver students join nationwide protests, classroom walkouts over COVID-19 safety

Denver students join protests in Chicago, New York City, and Boston regarding COVID-19 safety.

Students at Denver Public Schools say they will walk out of classes every day in protest beginning Thursday until the school district meets their demands concerning in-school COVID-19 safety.

The students' demands were outlined in a letter to the DPS superintendent and in a petition, with more than 700 signatures.

"Us students don't feel safe going to school in these deadly conditions, not until the [COVID-19] cases are brought down to a safer number," the letter reads. "We see it as necessary to speak up about how the Denver Public School District enacts its COVID regulations."

In the letter, students are demanding that KN95/N95 masks to be provided to all students; HEPA filtration and airflow be provided in all classrooms; twice-a-week COVID tests for in-person students; integrated learning for remote students; and weather-protected outdoor spaces for safe lunches. The letter also detailed the students' plan of action if those demands were not met before Jan. 20.