Bowie, Md. --Three black Bowie High School students have been suspended after they were charged with assaulting a white male student earlier this month.

Police say three girls got into a fight with the boy on the school bus on October 6th and attacked him once the four got off the bus at Pennypacker Lane.

Prince George's County police spokeswoman Julie Valdez says the girls pushed the boy to the ground and kicked and punched him.

Valdez says the girls have repeatedly been heard to say they "hate white people".

She said the girls allegedly select a different white student each day and pick on him.

The boy suffered a bruise to the head, bloody nose, scrapes and other bruises.

The mother of one girl disputes the charges and says she doesn't believe a hate crime was involved. The mother says her daughter tried to stop the fight and the boy took a swing at her.

The victim and his family have hired an attorney.