A viral image of San Jos\u00e9 students forming a human swastika while lying on their high school\u2019s football field has roiled the Silicon Valley community and prompted an outcry from the Jewish community.<\/p>\n
The picture of eight Branham High School students was posted Wednesday on social media, accompanied by an antisemitic 1939 quote from Adolf Hitler. The post has since been deleted and denounced by local leaders. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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,\u201d said Beth Silbergeld, the school\u2019s principal, in a statement to The Times. \u201cPersonally, I am horrified by this act. Professionally, I am confident and hopeful that our school community can learn from this moment and emerge stronger and more united.\u201d<\/p>\n
The students who took part in the incident have been identified, but their names will not be made public because of federal law, Silbergeld said. <\/p>\n
However, the matter has been referred to the San Jos\u00e9 Police Department, and the district plans to work with the Anti-Defamation League, the Bay Area Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area to address the fear caused by the event, she said.<\/p>\n
Jewish students at the school and their parents expressed disbelief.<\/p>\n