by Nikolas Molina

Social media images surfaced last week of teenagers performing the Nazi salute at a party in Newport Beach, California while gathering around red plastic cups arranged in the shape of a swastika.

The party this Nazi salute took place was at a Newport District High School party.

According to The Los Angeles Times, the Newport School District will cooperate with law enforcement to identify each of the students in the images. The pictures first surfaced on Saturday night all over social media. People reposted it and attempted to make it go viral so that the students could be punished.

“We were recently made aware of social media postings involving some students who created inappropriate Anti-Semitic symbols, and possible underage drinking,” the schools’ spokeswoman stated.

“While these actions did not occur on any school campus or school function, we condemn all acts of Anti-Semitism and hate in all their forms,” she continued.

Other pictures surfaced from that night of students toasting over the swastika made from red solo cups that had a caption on the picture that stated “ultimate rage.” Another picture that surfaced was a picture of the swastika and the caption read “German rage cage.”

According to The Washington Post, a report from the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), incidents of Anti-Semitism in the United States went up 57 percent between 2016 and 2017 and the dramatic rise is largely attributed to a “significant increase” in cases in schools or on college campuses.

“I am appalled that Nazism is still present in today’s society,” said Nicholas Guggiana, a senior at St. John Bosco High School.

Personally, I do not think that any form of hate should still be prevalent in today’s society. Generations in the past have fought way too hard for equality, have had too many wars, and have been discriminated more than enough times to have acts of hate still existing.

“I think that it is immaturity at its finest, and that the youth of society does not respect the 6 million plus Jewish lives that were lost during the Holocaust,” said Derek Delgado, also a senior at Bosco.

These students were fully aware of what they were doing. Some may say it was a joke, but when 6 million lives are being mocked, there is nothing to joke about.