Nicholas Senn High School
(Photo : Twitter/Senn High School)

Latino students at a Chicago high school held a sit-in protest after a school staffer allegedly told a female student to "go back to your country" when she refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.

Videos of the protest surfaced on social media where students can be seen chanting "we want justice" and calling for the removal of a teacher amind claims he discriminated against a student in last month's assembly.

The student was identified as 17-year-old Yésica Salazar. She said they sat down during the national anthem in protest against U.S. immigration policies as well as police brutality. 

According to a social media post, two teachers approached them "in an aggressive manner" after they refused to stand. Salazar said one of the teachers asked her if her legs were broken after they left the auditorium, to which she replied no.

Salazar began explaining why she chose to sit down during the pledge to which the teacher responds "Go back to your country."

The teacher also asked if the Latino student was eligible for the school's free lunch, saying she was disrespecting those who died for the country. 

"I notified my network. I notified CPS. I notified everybody within three hours of receiving the report. It is all in writing. It is all timestamped. I did my job," Mary Beck, the school's principal, said during the protest. "I continue to follow through based on the guidelines and policies that we have in place."

A student who also took part in the protest on Wednesday said the teacher made fun of his disability two years ago. 

"What did Principal Beck say? 'Well that's how he is.'" the student said in a video.

In a letter sent to parents and families, Beck said she learned of the incident "a few weeks ago". She said she met with the students involved in the incident and created solutions to increase student voice and safety. 

The principal also stated additional CPD officers were at the school on Wednesday as a precaution.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested during the sit-in protest on Wednesday after she allegedly pushed a 55-year-old man and causing him to fall. Police took the student in custody and charged her with battery. 

According to a 2018-2019 school year data, Nicholas Senn High School's student body is mostly Latino and black. 25.8 percent of their students are black, 42.3 percent Hispanic, 11.2 percent white, and 17.5 percent Asian.

A CPS spokesman said they are aware of the incident at the assembly and has since opened an investigation into the allegations. 

"CPS is committed to fostering learning environments that support all students," district spokesman James Gherardi said in a statement. "The actions of the teacher run counter to our beliefs and priorities as a school district."

The district said the teacher violated its anti-discrimination policy after using "unacceptable language." CPS it will continue to work with students and address their concerns. 

The school district refused to comment on whether the teacher is still in classroom.