TULLAHOMA, TN – Approximately 70 to 80 students at Tullahoma High School participated in a walkout this month to protest policies and actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Similar student-led demonstrations have been reported in communities across the country, including several in Tennessee such as Mt. Juliet, Johnson City, Brentwood and Knoxville.
In a statement provided to local media, Tullahoma City Schools officials confirmed the demonstration was not school-sanctioned and that normal attendance and disciplinary policies remain in effect. “This was not a school-sanctioned event; school and attendance rules still apply. All appropriate disciplinary action will be handled by school administrators,” the statement read.
Students left campus around 10:30 a.m. and gathered in front of the high school for what officials described as a brief protest. School administrators coordinated with School Resource Officers and the Tullahoma Police Department to monitor the situation and ensure student safety. According to the district, most students returned to class following the demonstration, while some went home and others continued walking along Jackson Street.
Shortly after the walkout began, a fire alarm sounded at the high school. Students and staff evacuated the building while the Tullahoma Fire Department investigated. Officials later confirmed the building was safe and classes resumed.
One student participant stated that the walkout had been planned weeks in advance and described the protest as an effort to express personal and cultural viewpoints. The student also acknowledged that school officials and law enforcement were present during the demonstration.
Students who continued marching moved toward the area near the former Highway 55 Burger and Fries location, where they displayed signs and chanted as traffic passed.
School officials thanked first responders and staff for maintaining safety throughout the incident. The district has not announced specific disciplinary outcomes related to the walkout.
Stay informed and stay connected to ESPN Radio Winchester.
