The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:40 PM
Tennessee High School Students Jumped On Police Car, Tore Down American Flag During National Protest Wednesday For Stricter Gun Control
The Lexington Herald Leader reported Wednesday that students disrupted a planned national walkout event at Antioch High School, which included 17 minutes of silence to honor the victims of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting.
Videos posted online by Meylin Zavala show students tearing down an American flag hanging from a flagpole. Police said some students jumped onto one of their patrol cars as well.
Police have not been able to identify who
was responsible.
Michelle Michaud with Metro Nashville Public Schools said in a statement
that while they respected students advocating for important causes,
students' disruptions on Wednesday were not safe.
"We understand that our students may be feeling lots of emotions,
including anxiety, fear and even anger about today's events," Michaud
said.
"Unfortunately, some students on our Antioch campus today chose to
protest in ways that significantly disrupted school operations and
threatened the safety and order for other students and staff within our
school. Swift action was taken by school security and MNPD to address
the situation. No students or staff members were injured during the
walkout."
Students across the nation walked out of class on Wednesday in
solidarity with the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School shooting and to push lawmakers to take action on gun violence.