Teachers union president condemns protests blocking DeVos from school

The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on Friday condemned protests barring Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from entering a Washington, D.C., middle school.

“Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson.We don’t condone such acts.We want her to go to pub schls,” Randi Weingarten tweeted.

Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson.We don’t condone such acts.We want her to go to pub schls

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) February 10, 2017

The AFT has fiercely opposed DeVos since the GOP mega-donor was tapped to head the Education Department.

{mosads}In a statement issued shortly after DeVos’s confirmation on Tuesday, the union called it “a sad day for children” and suggested that she would do little to help the country’s public schools.

DeVos has been a fierce advocate for charter schools and taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers. She was among President Trump’s most controversial nominees and was narrowly confirmed on Tuesday, after Vice President Pence cast a tie-breaking vote in her favor.

Protesters on Friday physically blocked DeVos from entering Jefferson Middle School for a visit planned by the Washington Teachers’ Union. The Education secretary was later able to enter the school.