Greendale students raise their voices, saying high school has tense racial climate

GREENDALE -- A student and her mother are fighting the girl's suspension at Greendale High School. They say she was punished after another student called her a racial slur. Conversations about race was front at center at a school board meeting Monday night, Oct. 22.

In part, the school says the students involved in the incident have been counseled and appropriate school actions have been taken in accordance with district practice. However, students who spoke out on Monday, Oct. 22 don't agree.

"I've been silent about all these things but I'm really sick of it," said Yaminah Powell, Greendale High School student.

They are raising their voices on a serious topic.

"They refuse to do stuff about it so when we react to it we're wrong," said Symone Mclain, Greendale High School student.

A group of students allege not enough is being done by the school district to address a tense racial climate among the student body.

"I've only been down to the office to talk about race and each time they tell me, we'll handle it, we're doing the best we can, or we'll get to it or just ignore it even," said Chanese Knox.

At the center of the new conference was Chanese Knox. She was suspended in September after confronting a student who she says called her the 'n-word.'

"I thought I was in the right of confronting her about the 'n-word' and that it should not be said to anyone," Knox said.

No physical violence came from it. Now, Knox and her mother are fighting to get the suspension overturned.

"They brought the police in to talk to her. I didn't get a call at all," said Chanese's mother. "It's not OK to call the cops on my daughter for standing up for herself for racial slurs."

Greendale School District released the following statement on the incident:

"It's not just me that's going through this situation," Knox said. "It's OK to talk about it. It is OK to use your voice and say what you need to say."

The group attended a school board meeting Monday night, to bring up their complaint.

"Help us teach our peers that racial slurs and jokes are not tolerable," said a student.

The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee support their efforts and want the school board to do more.

"We're asking them to do something about the racial climate at this school," said King Rick, Black Panthers.

Greendale School District released the following statement after the board meeting: