WASHINGTON TWP -- More than 200 people gathered in the Washington Township High School's auditorium Thursday night after two days of escalating tension over racist texts that sparked a hallway scuffle and student protest.

"We're so frustrated and we're so mad," said Autumn Ellis, a senior who took part in the protest. "Our voice is being heard, but it's been years."

A group of students became involved in a confrontation in the halls of the Gloucester County school Wednesday that was caught on video after screenshots of a white student's texts using the n-word were shared on Twitter.

"Ya'll think your cool cause the color of your skins, black, but I think we should bring the kkk back," one of the texts read, according to the screenshots.

"We don't feel safe here, because the word has been thrown around like it's nothing," Ellis said. "That word has affected so many people."

A video taken Wednesday shows a student lunge at another in a hallway before a school official grabs him. Another adult struggles to hold back an angry student in the footage.

The texts and scuffle led to suspensions, school officials said. On Thursday morning, more than 100 students gathered for a sit-in in the school's lobby. Administrators later moved the students from the halls to the auditorium, where they engaged in hours of discussion on prolonged instances of racism they have experienced in the school, superintendent Joseph Bollendorf said.

Parents and students gathered again in the auditorium on Thursday night to address the growing concerns.

Dozens lined up to speak at microphones. Many said that the racist incident should come as no surprise to the school, as they've heard hateful remarks or experienced discrimination in the district for years.

"There are problems, there are issues," Bollendorf said, noting that Washington Township is not exempt from the national climate that has fostered race-based protests and rallies have taken place in recent weeks.

"The thing that matters most [is that each student] has a fair chance," he said. "To find out, in a very vivid, candid, sincere way, that not everyone feels that way, is troubling to me."

Some parents raised concerns about safety at the school, following rumors that someone had brought a gun into the building. Bollendorf said those rumors were not credible.

He added that he did not expect protest to carry over into Friday, and said classes should resume.

Some in the crowd asked if homecoming would be held over the weekend, a question that had the crowd clamoring.

"The fact that people are mad and worried about just homecoming, is a problem," said Victor Rodriguez, a senior involved in the protest. "We put our senior trip on the line to protest here. We're not worried about a dance. Senior year is supposed to be getting you ready for real life in general. Not once, we don't talk about real-life problems in our classes. And we need to start doing that."

Some parents complained that their children came home feeling unsafe, and that education had been disrupted.

"Education took place," Bollendorf said, also ensuring the crowd that their children would be kept safe. "Whether you were in a classroom, or a part of this room."

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amahoover. Find NJ.com on Facebook.