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A disturbing photo of eight Branham High School students in San Jose, California, forming a swastika on the football field, paired with an Adolf Hitler quote, spread online on Wednesday, alarming Jewish students and parents and triggering a district investigation.
The post first appeared on Instagram through an account using the name of a current student. It included a caption quoting, in German, part of Hitler’s January 30, 1939 Reichstag speech. Instagram’s auto-translation rendered a line blaming “international financial Jews” for “plunging nations into a world war” and threatening “the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.” Historians widely view that speech as a precursor to the Nazi regime’s genocidal “Final Solution.”
Although Instagram removed the post and the account later in the week, screenshots continued circulating on Nextdoor, Reddit, and local group chats.
Branham High School Principal Beth Silbergeld addressed the incident in a message to parents. She stressed that the students’ actions violated the school’s values and confirmed that the administration had opened an investigation. “The incident is being investigated in accordance with district procedures, and appropriate follow-up will occur,” she wrote. She added that the school “stands firmly against all forms of hate, discrimination, and intolerance.”
Silbergeld, who is Jewish, later said the school recognized the image as an antisemitic act. She explained that the administration was working with the San Jose Police Department and Jewish organizations to “repair the harm that’s been done to our community” and ensure students feel protected.
Jewish Teens and Parents Voice Concerns
During a schoolwide announcement on Friday, Silbergeld confirmed that staff had identified all eight students involved.
A Jewish student said the photo left her feeling exposed. “I was really scared, my identity feels threatened right now,” she said. “There are people at my school who think they can get away with this.”
Many Jewish families described a similar reaction. One mother, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, said her ninth-grade son immediately recognized at least one student in the image. “I’m afraid because I feel that my son is not safe at school,” she said. “I have goosebumps seeing this picture.”
Confronting a Pattern
This latest incident follows a state investigation earlier this year that found two Branham teachers had violated California law by presenting one-sided, discriminatory instruction on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in senior ethnic literature classes. Jewish students said those lessons made them feel targeted and pushed to the margins.
A parent also recalled that one of her children faced antisemitic behavior in class shortly after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. The student asked her not to report it, fearing retaliation. When she saw this week’s photo, the mother said she could not believe the school was facing another serious incident.
Students voiced similar frustration. “It’s become kind of normalized to joke about antisemitism and to be openly prejudiced against other people,” one senior said. “It’s not OK, but it’s the reality some openly Jewish people have to live.”
Silbergeld said the school would address the harm directly with students next week. She noted that staff and student leaders were preparing discussions and resources to support those affected. She reaffirmed the school’s responsibility to protect its students. “We share collective responsibility to ensure safety and a respectful environment,” she said.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
