Austin-East students take police reform demands to downtown Knoxville
Austin-East Magnet High School students took their protests from school hallways to the halls of government, marching Tuesday from East Knoxville to the City-County Building downtown.
The students, like many community members over the past two weeks, demanded police reform after the death of classmate Anthony Thompson Jr. The 17-year-old was shot and killed by an officer during a chaotic confrontation inside an Austin-East bathroom on April 12.
“We don’t feel unsafe because of the students, but because of the officers,” said Arianna Bailey, a junior.
She and Shakayla Blair, also a junior, said they are haunted by the sight of officers with rifles inside their school that day.