Students form 'human swastika' on school football field in 'disturbing and unacceptable act of antisemitism'

It was accompanied by a German-language caption quoting Adolf Hitler's notorious 1939 speech.

The quote referenced "international Jewish financiers" and threatened "the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe."

The post, which has since been removed, depicted the students lying on their backs to form the Nazi symbol on the football field.

A fellow pupil at the school reportedly discovered the disturbing image and subsequently informed their parents and other families in the community.

School principal Beth Silbergeld, who is herself Jewish, announced on Friday that an investigation had been launched and all eight pupils involved had been identified, though federal law prevents their names from being disclosed.

"Our message to the community is clear: This was a disturbing and unacceptable act of antisemitism," Ms Silbergeld.

"Actions that target, demean, or threaten Jewish students have no place on our campuses."

She added: "Personally, 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."

State Senator Dave Cortese, a Democrat representing San Jose, described himself as "deeply disturbed" by the discovery.

Fellow Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener praised the school's rapid response but questioned why these young people believed such behaviour was acceptable, noting that antisemitism is "pervasive and growing" and leading to harassment and violence against Jewish people.

The incident has left Jewish pupils at the school deeply shaken and fearful for their safety.

"It was just insane to think that there were people at my school that went around quoting Hitler," one Jewish senior told a local publication.

Another Jewish pupil in her final year said the episode had left her feeling vulnerable.

She said: "I was really scared, my identity feels threatened right now.

"There are people at my school who think they can get away with this. And for me, that was just really, really scary to know."

One mother, a second-generation Holocaust survivor whose son is in his first year at the school, expressed alarm after her child recognised at least one of the students in the photograph.

"I'm afraid because I feel that my son is not safe at school," she told the publication. "I have goosebumps seeing this picture."

Tali Klima, spokesman for the Bay Area Jewish Coalition, described the display as "bold and premeditated," adding: "To have children echoing Hitler's words is frankly just shocking and heartbreaking, and the entire community has been rocked by this."

The matter has been referred to San Jose Police Department, with the school district confirming it will collaborate with the Anti-Defamation League, the Bay Area Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area to address concerns among students.

However, this incident represents the second occasion this year that Branham High School has faced allegations of antisemitism.

In April, California's Department of Education determined that an ethnic studies course at the school had discriminated against Jewish pupils.

The Bay Area Jewish Coalition had filed a formal complaint alleging that teachers in a 12th-grade ethnic literature class presented one-sided material regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The state education department's ruling found that a teacher had shown pupils a pro-Palestinian video without offering a corresponding pro-Israel perspective, concluding that balanced presentation would have been necessary for unbiased instruction.