New Jersey teacher to student: 'Speak American'

NEW JERSEY (FOX 5 NEWS) - A video that has gone viral on social media platforms apparently captured a teacher telling a student to stop speaking Spanish. The video was reportedly taken inside a classroom at Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey.

"Men and women are fighting. They are not fighting for your right to speak Spanish," the teacher can be heard saying. "They're fighting for your right to speak American."

"You're being racist," a student replies. "I know how to speak English."

"American," of course, is not a language.

The teacher was reportedly speaking to a 17-year-old girl who moved to the United States nine years ago and speaks English and Spanish. She has spoken out saying she wants a public apology.

The 26-second video was posted to Snapchat and then shared many times. The exchange reportedly happened Thursday, October 12.

Dozens of students walked out of class Monday to protest. By doing so, they risked suspension.

The school board held a closed-door meeting Monday evening to discuss the incident, Fox 5 learned.

Fox 5 has not yet received comments from either the high school or the school district.

Some students told Fox 5 that the principal spoke about the incident during an assembly on Friday.