COSTA MESA — A California school district is investigating social media photographs in which young people are seen giving Nazi salutes while standing around a table on which red cups form a swastika.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District was made aware Sunday of social media postings “involving some students who created inappropriate anti-Semitic symbols, and possible underage drinking,” the district said Monday in a statement.
“While these actions did not occur on any school campus or school function, we condemn all acts of anti-Semitism and hate in all their forms,” the district said. “We continue to gather information regarding the conduct of these students and work with law enforcement.”
School Board President Charlene Metoyer told The Orange County Register that several students were identified as attending Newport Harbor High School.
“I’d like to see genuine remorse from the perpetrators here,” she told the newspaper. “They need to learn about what those symbols mean and how devastating it is to see it occurring in 2019. We obviously need to do a better job of providing education and awareness.”
Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley said, “There is no place for hateful symbols of swastikas and Nazi salutes in our community. Glorifying or even joking about these symbols contradicts the values we share as a diverse community.”
Foley said the incident must be used as an opportunity to work with the school district to implement better anti-bias and anti-hate education.
