A disturbing photo of Branham High School students forming a swastika on the football field, paired with an antisemitic caption, has been bouncing around social media this week and rattling San Jose families. School leaders moved quickly to condemn the image, calling it completely at odds with campus values, and say the incident is now under active investigation. The principal told families the school is committed to a safe, inclusive learning environment and that hate has no place on campus.
What the school said
According to NBC Bay Area, the image was posted on Instagram and showed students arranged on the Branham football field in the shape of a swastika, alongside an antisemitic message. In a written statement, the principal said, “Branham stands firmly against all forms of hate, discrimination, and intolerance,” and emphasized that the school remains committed to ensuring every student “feels respected, valued, and supported.” The statement confirmed that the school has opened an investigation into the incident.
Image removed and students identified
As reported by JWeekly, the Instagram post included a Hitler quote in German before it was removed from the platform. A screenshot kept circulating in group chats even after the original was taken down. According to the outlet, school staff announced to students that all eight students shown in the photo had been identified and that the district would handle the matter under its established procedures. Parents and students told the publication the image left them shaken and on edge about safety at school.
Past state findings at the school
JTA previously reported that the California Department of Education found that lessons at Branham High had discriminated against Jewish students and ordered corrective training for teachers. The ruling spotlighted long-running worries over how the Israel-Palestine conflict is handled in certain classrooms and put additional scrutiny on the school’s climate.
Community reaction and next steps
Students and parents told J. that they felt shaken and unsafe after the image ricocheted around social media. One parent, whose own parent survived the Holocaust, said she got “goosebumps” when she saw the post and immediately feared for her child’s safety. School officials say they will follow district procedures and offer support to students who were harmed or distressed as the investigation moves forward.
What officials say now
Administrators say the investigation is ongoing and that appropriate follow-up steps will be taken under district policy, though they have not publicly detailed any potential discipline. The principal reiterated that “hate has no place on campus” and pledged support for students affected by the incident. As reported by NBC Bay Area, officials have not yet disclosed a timeline for when the inquiry will conclude.
