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Three Easthampton High School students were arrested on March 30, 2017, one day after a confrontation in the school's parking lot where a student who had reportedly posted a racial slur online was allegedly assaulted.

(Mary Serreze photo)

EASTHAMPTON -- Three Easthampton High School students were arrested Thursday night following an altercation in the school's parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

Joshua Brown, 18, pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court Friday to charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness, reports the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Brown was released on conditions that he stay away from the victim. Two juveniles were also reportedly arrested.

The alleged victim, who is white, reportedly posted a racist statement online before he was was confronted Wednesday by a group of students who are racial minorities. He had sent a former girlfriend a message on Snapchat asking if she was "still dating that n-," according to a police report viewed by the Gazette.

Police say they examined video and that the student was punched by the three other students. The victim was taken to the doctor by a parent and diagnosed with a concussion, according to the report.

The arrests came hours after hundreds of students staged a walkout Thursday and marched to the Municipal Building on Payson Avenue. Some students said they were unhappy with the way the School Department handles racist incidents.

City and school officials subsequently met with students at an all-school assembly, and issued statements saying neither racism nor violence are acceptable.

What appears to be cellphone video of the incident was posted online by Turtleboy Sports, a blog devoted to criticizing "social justice warriors."