Students at California school condemned after forming 'human swastika'

Local Anti-Defamation League (ADL) branch says the internet gave the nine pupils involved 'opportunity to hate'

Nine pupils at a school in California made a “human swastika” using their bodies and shared the images on a social media group chat, the school’s leaders have said.

The photos were found by a parent who alerted the school to the nature of the students’ messaging, which was described by Principal Javier Ramirez of Matilija Junior High School in Ventura County as one of several “racist, sexually inappropriate and threatening”.

Cyndi Silverman of the local Anti-Defamation League (ADL) branch said: “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen it in Ventura County and it isn’t the last. The internet gives people the opportunity to hate 24/7.

Ramirez said he and the school staff were “beyond saddened” to learn that students had been using their bodies to form the shape of a giant swastika for photos and amusement, adding: “We cannot tell you how many times we see students make extremely poor decisions through social media.”

He said the school would “identify, educate, counsel, and properly discipline those who fail to understand the severity of such hurtful words and actions”.