A Greendale High School student was suspended in September after sticking up for herself against a white student who called her a “nigger.”

“It’s a struggle every morning,” Chanese Knox, a junior at the Wisconsin high school told CBS 58.

Knox was suspended for one day last month after she and another student got into an argument. She said the white student spewed racial language towards her, but yet Know was the one who was punished. The police were called by school officials although Knox did not put her hands on the other student.

“How could you suspend the victim of a racial slur?” said Knox’s mother, Diannia Merriett.

Merriett said the entire incident has been traumatic for her daughter and Knox’s grades have suffered following the suspension.

Knox and others protested the racial climate at Greendale High School on Wednesday where they say students are openly racist.

“You have people that will just say [the n-word] freely in the hallways and not realize the magnitude the word has,” said Yaminah Powell, a senior at the school. She added that she’s concerned about her younger brother attending Greendale.

Senior Symone McLain told the news station, “I shouldn’t have to be afraid to come to school because I feel like I’m going to get angry because somebody’s saying something racist.”

Merriett is demanding an apology from the school district and for her daughter’s suspension to be overturned. She said she met with school officials and was displeased with their actions.

Dr. Gary Kiltz, the superintendent said in a statement, “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.”