News

Police investigating photos of California teens making Nazi salute around swastika made of plastic cups

by Owen Daugherty - 03/04/19 11:41 AM ET

The Newport Beach Police Department in California is working with the local high school to look into an image reportedly posted by students that depicts a swastika formed out of red solo cups.

The image shows a group of young adults, reported by The Orange County Register to include students from Newport Harbor High School, standing around the formed swastika holding their arms up in an apparent Nazi salute.

Photos of a high school party shared all over social media showing red cups in a swastika shape all while doing the Nazi salute sparking outrage in the Orange County community. Students and parents spoke with @KimTobinNBCLA tonight. @NBCLA @TELEMUNDO52 pic.twitter.com/wSIW17O9j1

— Katherine Picazo (@KatPicazoo) March 3, 2019

The images were posted to social media and quickly spread, sparking widespread backlash and concern from the local community.

{mosads}”We continue to gather information regarding the conduct of these students and work with law enforcement,” Newport Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Adriana Angulo told The Hill.

“We remain focused on educating students on all aspects of life’s challenges and are committed to holding students accountable, educating them on the consequences of their choices, and the impact these actions have on our schools and community at large.”

Newport Mesa Unified School District board president Charlene Metoyer confirmed to the local news outlet that several of the individuals in the photo are students who attend Newport Harbor High School, adding that she is “devastated” by the image.

“As a school board, we’re not only concerned by the underage drinking, but also the mental health of the students who participated in this horrendous act and all their fellow students who will be affected by it. This is appalling to not just our Jewish student community, but to all of us who care about human rights,” she said.

She added that the incident took place at an off-campus party over the weekend.

In a post on Twitter, Rep. Katie Porter (D) said she condemned the “hateful, anti-semitic symbol and call on parents and community leaders to redouble our efforts to educate young people about the history of violence against Jewish people worldwide.”

I condemn this display of a hateful, anti-semitic symbol and call on parents and community leaders to redouble our efforts to educate young people about the history of violence against Jewish people worldwide. This has no place in Orange County. https://t.co/Fo8FNrwJCV

— Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) March 3, 2019