A group of Tanner students staged a walkout earlier today in support of Principal Louis Gordon, who was placed on paid administrative leave Monday by Limestone County Schools.

Right around lunchtime, at least 50 students filed quietly out of the school, walked to the edge of the parking lot and stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

Aside from one female student who called out, “We love you Mr. Gordon,” the protesters were nearly silent. A few minutes into the demonstration, acting school principal Deborah Kenyon ushered the students back into the school.

She confirmed the students would not be reprimanded for their actions.

Marie Coleman, a 1986 Tanner graduate, came to show her support for the protesting students.

“These kids want the community and central office to know that they are behind Mr. Gordon, that he has done good things for this school and made changes for the better,” she said. “You see how peaceful and orderly they were? They did it right.”