Community outraged after California high schoolers form a human swastika | California
A photo of eight students lying in a swastika formation on a high school football field in San Jose, California, has caused shock and outrage in the Bay Area Jewish community.
A Branham high school student posted the photo to social media on Dec. 3 and included an anti-Semitic quote from Adolf Hitler in the caption. A screenshot of the post started circulating on the internet. reddit More than 500 comments were collected last Thursday. According to information obtained, the post and account were removed by Instagram on Friday morning. J., Northern California Jewish News.
School principal Beth Silbergeld said in a written statement to the Guardian that the social media post was reported to an anonymous tip line on Wednesday evening.
He also shared that the school will not share the identities of participating students or the disciplinary action taken against them, per federal law.
“While this incident does not reflect the values of the vast majority of our students and families, the harm it has caused is real and must be addressed,” Silbergeld said in a statement. “Many in our community are rightfully horrified by this image. This incident is disturbing and unacceptable. Professionally, we are committed to learning from this moment and moving forward with greater unity and purpose.”
He added: “Our message to the community is clear: This was a disturbing and unacceptable act of antisemitism. Actions that target, humiliate or threaten Jewish students have no place on our campuses. CUHSD [Campbell Union High School District] and Branham stands firmly against all forms of hatred, discrimination and intolerance.”
Representatives from the Bay Area Jewish Coalition (BAJC), a grassroots organization dedicated to ensuring the safety of Jewish Bay Area residents, shared that the impact of the social media post extends beyond San Jose.
“It is frankly shocking and heartbreaking that children are repeating Hitler’s words, and the whole society is shaken by this,” BAJC spokeswoman Tali Klima said. “This bold and premeditated stunt really shook everyone up.”
Maya Bronicki, BAJC’s education officer, attributed the incident in part to a lack of Holocaust education and historical context regarding symbols of hate such as the swastika. “We have full confidence that if the district takes actual measures to teach students the right lessons about inclusivity and anti-hate, that Jews are a minority that deserves compassion and understanding and deserves to be equal with everyone else in this education system, that will be a huge step toward the society of tomorrow,” he said.
The school district plans to work with BAJC, as well as the Anti-Defamation League and the Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council, to address and repair the damage caused by the incident.
