EAST POINT, Ga. – Police were forced to subdue at least one parent at the recent Tri-Cities High School graduation after officials changed to a smaller venue and some were allegedly prevented from watching the ceremony.

Earlier last week, school officials changed the venue for the Tri-Cities High School graduation from the school’s stadium to the gymnasium because of rain. Officials distributed six tickets to each graduating student for family to watch the occasion, but some contend they were turned away despite arriving early, WSB-TV reports.

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“This is ridiculous,” parent Wajeedah Price told the news site. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and we can’t see our kids graduate.”

Several parents reportedly became frustrated by the situation, which quickly escalated to violence and police intervention.

“It was pushing and shoving, and ‘Don’t push me, don’t push.’ Next thing you know, swings, arms, fists,” parent Janelle Carter said.

Fulton County School District spokeswoman Susan Hales told the Daily Mail in an email that school officials are “still determining why some guests did not gain entry as there should have been space.”

“Traditionally, graduation ceremonies at Tri-Cities have drawn about 3,500 guests in attendance. The school gym has a capacity of 2,400 and two additional viewing areas were arranged with large AV screens and speakers,” she wrote.

“The two viewing areas combined had capacity for around  – bringing the total seating to about 3,800.”

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She said one man was Tased during the melee.

“I can confirm that there was an arrest for disorderly conduct when an individual became physically combative with a police officer and was not following his safety directives,” she wrote. “A taser was used on that individual and he was arrested.”

Parents were irate about being locked out of the ceremony.

“I waited four years for this, and you’re going to tell me I can’t go down there to see them?” parent Chet Boykin said.

District officials told WSBT that parents who arrived at the graduation on time were let in, but those who were late may have been excluded.

Boykin said he was two hours early and didn’t get in.

“I was here at 5:30 and still couldn’t get in,” he said. “They should have stopped it and scheduled it for another day.”

Several folks who commented about the situation online were not impressed by the school or parents involved.

“I see parents like this and it explains why … a lot of kids in school are bad,” Mr Joshua wrote.

“What an appalling lack of planning. I can see why the parents were furious. It can rain on any given day and how asinine can these administrators be to have no backup plan that will cover every parent. Public schools just plain suck,” I Love Chihuahuas wrote. “My sons’ graduation ceremonies were one of the highlights of my life as a parent. A parent should not be deprived of feeling the pride of this accomplishment and the emotions that go with it.”

Parent Jennifer Highsmith posted in the comments section of The Root that the way the story was reported in the media is misleading.

“Parents were alerted WELL in advance (on Tuesday) that Friday’s graduation would be moved indoors.  As a matter of fact the principal gave parents a heads up that it may be moved during an awards ceremony a week prior to the graduation.  Each student was given 6 tickets to sit in the gym to view the graduation.  There was also an overflow area set up in the Commons area and in the Auditorium, BOTH with screens that televised the graduation.  Those that did not have a ticket were able to watch the ceremony at the school and still see their graduates,” she wrote.

“Yes a fight broke out in the school (directly behind me in fact) but the fight was over a person wanting to bring balloons into the gym.  It had nothing to do with the graduation ceremony.  If you notice, they were already in the school when the fight broke out.”