Darryl Enriquez

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

GREENDALE - African-American students at Greendale High School say their concerns over feeling unsafe have heightened following a high-school hallway confrontation over the "n-word" and related suspension of black female student Chanese Knox last month.

Almost 50 students, parents and supporters attended an after-school protest rally in front of Greendale High School on Monday, Oct. 22. The racially mixed group included two of the black female's teammates on the high-school swim team.

Knox said she also is a member of the track team, Girl Scouts and volunteers at a Greendale food pantry.

Protest organizer Diannia Merriett, Knox's mother, said the marches would continue every Monday until the racial climate within the school district changes and Knox's suspension is overturned.

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Use of the 'n-word'

Highlighting the rally were deeply personal speeches from students, parents and supporters that called for an end to racial bias and repeated use of the "n-word" by white Greendale students.

Knox, a 16-year-old African-American Greendale High School junior, was suspended for a few days last month after verbally confronting a fellow student who called her the "n-word" on two separate days — Sept. 12 and 14.

The district declined to disclose information on whether the other girl was disciplined. No one from district administration was sighted at the rally at 6801 Southway. A least a dozen cars drove by the protest march with honking horns and drivers showing thumbs up.

State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), who attended the rally, said in a curbside interview that in a talk with district superintendent Gary Kiltz she expressed willingness to help the district overcome reported racial strife.

Not feeling safe

Taylor said subjecting students to racial attacks is traumatic and erodes much-needed feelings of safety within classrooms and hallways.

"Given the current climate of our nation, tenor and tone of our social interactions, and increasing racial polarization, we need to do everything within our power to help our students not repeat the divisive mistakes of our nation’s past,” Taylor said in a written statement.

Merriett, said in a morning interview, that administrators have not done enough to discourage use of racially offensive language.

Knox and her group expressed fears other students will retaliate for their holding the rallys.

Exacerbating the situation was Merriett's feeling that her daughter was unfairly suspended for "standing her ground" and "verbally confronting the girl," who twice called her the "n-word" - once on Sept. 12 and again on Sept. 14.

Knox and her mother had a meeting Sept. 13 with the high-school principal to discuss the racial slur. Merriett said she and her daughter were told the administration was working on a solution to prevent the use of racial slurs.

Knox said at the rally that she confronted the female student after the second slur due to her frustration about nothing being done after the Sept. 13 meeting.

Missed homecoming

Merriett said the suspension prevented Knox from attending homecoming festivities on Sept. 15 and competing in two swim meets. The family had spent nearly $150 on a dress, jewelry and shoes for Knox, Merriett said.

Knox said she was suspended on Sept. 14 by a school vice principal after being accused of violating the school district's code of conduct by confronting the female student after she again was called the "n-word."

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No physical contact was made between the two females, Merriett said.

Police talked with Knox at the school about being disorderly, but decided not to issue a ticket for disorderly conduct, Merriett said.

Kiltz comments

Gary Kiltz, superintendent, said "In accordance with Federal student privacy laws, we are not able to provide specifics regarding the incident and student consequences referenced. We can tell you that the students involved in this situation have been counseled and appropriate school actions have been taken in accordance with District practice."

"Greendale Schools is committed to the safety and well-being of all students. District administration takes every student, family and staff concern seriously and investigates all matters brought to our attention. Threats, hate speech and harassment have no place in our school community," Kiltz said.

He added that school administration continues to offer to work with Knox and Merritt to ensure the student feels safe at school. "We take these concerns very seriously and will continue to investigate the matters raised," he said.

African-American students make up about 2.7 percent of the student body at the high school, Kitty Goyette, a district spokeswoman, said.

Given a brush off

During the rally, Knox accused the district of brushing off her concerns about racial incidents after reporting them to administrators.

"We will not be silent," Knox said. "We will be heard.

"I thought I was in the right to confront her for saying the n-word. They (administration) forced us to be here."

Knox said the girl who called her names was a transfer from the Oak Creek-Franklin School District and had been at Greendale High School for only six days prior to the confrontation. Knox's statement could not be verified.