OREGON TEACHERS DEMAND 'SAFETY FIRST' IN SALEM PROTEST

Oregon teachers and supporters gathered in Salem on Monday to demand “Safety First.”

Went up by one.

Hundreds of teachers rallied at the state capitol today..

To protest in person learning.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma withrow joins us live in salem with more on their message.

Renee.... this protest just wrapped up after a couple of hours.

These teachers are demanding that schools are completely online until two weeks have passed with no new coronavirus cases.

Some of them told me they think district officials should be more concerned with generating remote learning equipment for students who don't have access rather than in person ppe.

One of the teachers i spoke with says there are other options to negotiating all online learning if district officials don't listen to their concerns.

5pm: julisa rodriguez, 5th grade teacher "i am apart of a union, it's a union here in salem keizer for our licensed staff.

We are already in talks if the district goes against our wishes of reopening before it's safe" one counter protestor also showed up... he was chanting to open up the schools and stop the shut down.

He got into a brief altercation with another protestor but it was quickly squashed by state capital police.

Coming up at 6 -- what one teacher says many in the opposition are getting wrong about their message for online instruction.

Reporting live in salem emma withrow kezi nine news.