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Girl Says She Was Beaten for Anti-Illegal Immigration Sign Last Edited: Tuesday, 08 Apr 2008, 12:04 PM CDT Created: Tuesday, 08 Apr 2008, 10:58 AM CDT . SideBar
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ATHENS, Texas  --  An East Texas girl who made an anti-illegal immigration sign as part of a U.S. history class assignment said she was beaten by other students.

Her sign read: "If you love our nation, stop illegal immigration."

The father of Melanie Bowers, 13, of Athens said he's keeping her out of classes until probably next week until the situation is resolved.

"She's upset, first and foremost, because she didn't feel like she had any reason to be attacked," J.R. Bowers told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "She loves going to school. We're having to keep her out because we're scared for her."

As a class project, students made "protest signs" about past and current issues.

Melanie Bowers took her sign to school March 31. J.R. Bowers said his eighth-grade daughter was attacked Friday in a hallway. She suffered scrapes and bruises and later sought medical attention.

Shera Bowers said her daughter's sign was torn up at school.

Police are reviewing security video from Athens Middle School.

Superintendent Fred Hayes said the investigation continues.

"I think that probably what we ought to look at is, if it's a current issue, we probably don't need a protest poster made on that issue," Hayes said.

Hummm....I bet this would be considered a hate crime if the roles were reversed. After all she is white girl and was attacked by hispanics that didn't like her legal protest assignment about illegal immigration that the school approved. What do the rest of you think?