A photograph of eight students lying in the shape of a swastika on a high school football field in San Jose, California, has sparked shock and anger within the Bay Area Jewish community.
The image was posted to social media on 3 December by a Branham High School student, accompanied by an antisemitic quotation from Adolf Hitler. A screenshot of the post began circulating on Reddit last Thursday, attracting more than 500 comments. Instagram removed the post and the account by Friday morning, according to J., the Jewish News of Northern California.
Beth Silbergeld, principal of Branham High School, said in a written statement to the Guardian that the post had been reported to an anonymous tip line on Wednesday evening. She confirmed that the school would not disclose the identities of those involved or details of disciplinary action, citing federal law.
“While this incident does not reflect the values of the vast majority of our students and families, the harm it caused is real and must be addressed,” Silbergeld said. “Many in our community were rightly appalled by the image. This incident is troubling and unacceptable. Professionally, we are committed to learning from this moment and moving forward with greater unity and purpose.”
She added: “Our message to the community is clear: this was a disturbing and unacceptable act of antisemitism. Actions that target, demean, or threaten Jewish students have no place on our campuses. CUHSD [Campbell Union High School District] and Branham stand firmly against all forms of hate, discrimination, and intolerance.”
The Bay Area Jewish Coalition (BAJC), a grassroots organisation focused on the safety of Jewish residents, said the impact of the post had reverberated beyond San Jose.
“To have children echoing Hitler’s words is frankly just shocking and heartbreaking, and the entire community has been rocked by this,” said BAJC spokesperson Tali Klima. “This bold and premeditated display has really shaken everyone.”
Maya Bronicki, BAJC’s education lead, linked the incident to a lack of Holocaust education and understanding of hate symbols. “We have absolute faith that if the district takes actual measures to teach students the right lessons about being inclusive and anti-hate, that Jews are a minority that deserve compassion and understanding and deserve to be equal to everyone else in this education system, then that would be a huge step towards tomorrow’s society,” she said.
The Campbell Union High School District has announced plans to work with BAJC, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area to address the harm caused and to strengthen education against antisemitism and intolerance.
