The protest — one of dozens of “ICE Out” protests occurring across the nation Friday — targeted heavy ICE presence in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities following the deaths of Minnesotans Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Many UT students faced freezing temperatures to attend the protest.

“What really convinced me I had to be here was when I saw Alex Pretti get shot on the street for no other reason than defending a woman and carrying something he’s legally allowed to carry,” Aiden Fennell, junior psychology major, said as he walked among friends. “When they’re killing people in the streets, I know I have to be here.”

But efforts from Knox County high school students are what set the protest into motion. 

Three of those students, Kyle Harper, Kiernan Standish and Eva Eng, shared their motivation for organizing the movement.

“We feel that ICE is violating our rights by entering our schools, and also just terrorizing our country in general,” Harper said.

UT students, including Jonah Lehmann, a freshman political science major, helped reinforce the high school organizers.

“It was hard,” Lehmann said. “This was easily the largest action I have played a senior role in.”

Peers from various high schools across Knoxville also attended. Lucien Crane, student at Webb School of Knoxville, expressed his frustration over the deaths of Good and Pretti.

“Everyone should be uncomfortable,” Crane said.

Charlotte McAffry, student at Career Magnet Academy, shared a similar sentiment.

“I feel really angry about everything that ICE is doing,” McAffry said. “They’re murdering people.”

The march drew a larger crowd than just students, with many adults showing up in support of the efforts.

“As someone in the construction industry that speaks Spanish everyday, I think it’s atrocious that we’re treating the Hispanic neighbors that we have like they’re second-class citizens,” protestor Rush Niceley said.

Some adults claimed to be marching for the sake of their children, with a few even bringing their children along. One protester’s sign read, “Children are not criminals,” while others’ said, “No ICE in our schools” and “Keep kids safe.”

“I want to set an example for my daughter, that this isn’t the way we treat people,” protester Savannah Wolfgram said. “This is not what was promised, you know. Nobody voted for this.”

Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) attended the protest, calling for the disbanding of ICE.

“You can’t reform what they are. They lied about what their mission was,” Johnson said.

Protestor Olaria Parlapino waved a solid red flag through the streets to represent a broader fight for liberty.

“The red flag has been a symbol of the working class movement for its open self-liberation,” Parlapino said. “It’s a symbol of socialism, liberation and the struggle for the working class to bring upon a future in which there will be no imperialist wars, there will be no racism, and segregation and slavery.”

The high turnout of students and adults alike came as a surprise for Lehmann, who is new to Knoxville’s political scene as a first-year student.

“I come from Nashville, which is a much more activist-focused city,” Lehmann said. “The fact that we were able to see, honestly, that level of energy, that level of turnout in Knoxville — and, more importantly, that level of cooperation for a common goal — is incredibly impressive.”

The turnout gratified student organizers who spent days planning the event.

“I didn’t think it would ever get this big, but it warms my heart to see everyone here,” Standish said. “If you need something done, don’t wait for someone else to do it. Stand up for yourself.”