Covington Catholic closes Tuesday, first school day after D.C. incident

CINCINNATI – Covington Catholic High School is closed Tuesday over security concerns, according to school officials.

“After meeting with local authorities, we have made the decision to cancel school and be closed on Tuesday, January 22, in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” reads a letter from school principal Robert Rowe, obtained by WXIX-TV, Fox19 in Cincinnati.

“All activities on campus will be cancelled for the entire day and evening. Students, parents, faculty and staff are not to be on campus for any reason. Please continue to keep the Covington Catholic Community in your prayers.”

Earlier Tuesday, it was unclear whether the school was closed because of threats or inclement weather.

Tuesday would have marked the first school day since a video prompted public outrage and accusations that students mocked a Native American activist.

Over the weekend, competing narratives unfolded, hours of cell phone footage from different sources was released showing a fuller picture.

Student Nick Sandmann, who took center stage in the clips, issued a statement firmly stating he wasn’t mocking anyone. President Donald Trump took to Twitter defending the teen.

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Covington Catholic High School was closed Tuesday, the first school day scheduled after an incident in Washington D.C. when students were filmed in an altercation with a Native American man.
Covington Catholic High School was closed Tuesday, the first school day scheduled after an incident in Washington D.C. when students were filmed in an altercation with a Native American man.

On Tuesday, after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, police cruisers blocked the entrances to Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky. Additional police cars circled the school.

Threats have poured in against students and the school itself with some going so far as to wish a school shooting upon Cov Cath, as it is called locally.

Jan. 22: Trump tweets that Covington Catholic students in viral video were 'treated unfairly'

Opinion: Covington Catholic furor is a warning to end our dangerous social media mob mentality

There may be a rally in support of Covington Catholic students at 8 a.m., but it is unclear whether the school closure will mean the rally is called off.

A rally against racism, organized by a Native American group, is planned for 10 a.m. at the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Covington.

Follow Cameron Knight on Twitter: @ckpj99

Jan. 20: Fuller video casts new light on Covington Catholic students' encounter with Native American elder

Opinion: Give Covington Catholic students room to process without harassment

Jan. 20: Covington Catholic could expel students who taunted Native American man in viral video

Jan. 20: Native American veteran: 'Mob mentality' in students seen in viral video was 'scary'

Jan. 19: 'Blatant racism': Ky. high school apologizes following backlash after video shows students surrounding indigenous marchers

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington Catholic closes Tuesday, first school day after D.C. incident