Melanie Bowers, 13, was hurt after being assaulted by angry classmates for bringing to school a sign reading “If you love our nation, stop illegal immigration.”

The school’s administrators said Tuesday they had suspended three of the students involved in the altercation.

The assaulted girl brought the sign to school as part of a class project regarding political activism. Her classmates were also requested to prepare a poster expressing their attitude towards various issues.

Fred Hayes, superintendent of the Athens Middle School, said he was saddened by the event and considered the project inappropriate for eighth-grade students.

“It's disappointing that it happened,” Hayes said, according to FOX News. “It does not surprise me with the political nature of this issue.”

Bowers declared that she was surrounded by about 20 students in the school’s hallway, when she showed the sign. She said they verbally and physically attacked her and eventually managed to destroy her poster.

The girl’s father, J.R.Bowers, said his daughter had suffered scratches on various parts of the body and she also had a swollen jaw.

“She was like a zebra on her arm,” Bowers said, referring at Melanie’s bruises. “She believes they were intentionally trying to hurt her.”

The three suspended students are of Hispanic origin. 34 percent of the students in the Athens school district are Hispanic, while around 50 percent are white, Texas Education Agency informs.

Melanie’s parents believe the school officials did not handle the issue properly, as they decided not to call them immediately after the incident had happened. Apparently, Melanie was sent back to class and her family was not quickly informed about the matter.

The school’s superintendent said that, since the story was spread, the district has received lots of e-mails from far-away places.