San Jose Teens' Swastika Photo Sparks Outrage and Unity

A recent act by a group of teenagers at a San Jose high school, posing in a human swastika and sharing a photo with a quote from Adolf Hitler, has prompted a strong community response. The incident at Branham High School, captured during a lunch break, deeply affected the local Jewish community, leading to a gathering organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area to condemn antisemitism and express solidarity.

Speakers at the event, including Branham High School principal Beth Silbergeld and Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, emphasized the critical need for Holocaust education and fostering empathy. Silbergeld noted that antisemitism is learned and that symbols like the swastika continue to threaten marginalized groups. The Bay Area Jewish Coalition has documented 500 antisemitic incidents in Bay Area K-12 schools since November 2023, underscoring the pervasiveness of the issue.

The community's resolve was further strengthened by recent global events, including a terrorist attack in Sydney on December 14. Leaders at the gathering, including Congressman Sam Liccardo and various state and local officials, stressed that while condemning darkness is essential, this moment also serves as a celebration of light and a call for continued dialogue and action against hate in all its forms.