Covington Catholic, Diocese of Covington will remain closed until law enforcement says it is safe

Cincinnati Enquirer

People stand outside the Cathedral of the Assumption during a protest of the Catholic Diocese of Covington outside in Covington, Kentucky, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019. The protest was planned by the American Indian Movement in response to incident in Washington DC when students of Covington Catholic High School were filmed in an altercation with a Native American man.

Covington Catholic, Covington Latin and Diocese of Covington will be closed for an undetermined period of time following the backlash after a video of students and a man from the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington D.C. went viral.

According to a statement from the Diocese of Covington, the schools and the diocese were closed to due threats of violence toward the school as well as a planned rally outside the diocese.

"Due to threats of violence and the possibility of large crowds the Diocese was advised to close Covington Catholic High School, the Diocesan Curia and neighboring Covington Latin School," the diocese said. "We thank law enforcement officers for their protection and will reopen when they say it is safe to do so."

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Covington Catholic Principal Robert Rowe announced that the school would be closed Tuesday in a letter to parents.

“After meeting with local authorities, we have made the decision to cancel school and be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” Rowe said “All activities on campus will be canceled for the entire day and evening. Students, parents, faculty and staff are not to be on campus for any reason."

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Tuesday afternoon the diocese announced it would have an independent, third-party investigation into the incident between Covington Catholic students, Nathan Phillips and Black Hebrew Israelites.

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"This is a very serious matter that has already permanently altered the lives of many people. It is important for us to gather the facts that will allow us to determine what corrective actions, if any, are appropriate," the diocese said.

The diocese said it would have no further statements until the investigation is complete.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report.

Covington Catholic High School which is closed Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in Park Hills, Ky. Tuesday was the first day scheduled for students to be back in school after an incident in Washington DC when students were filmed in an altercation with a Native American man.