Parents and students at a Long Island high school are outraged after an anti-Semitic photo was posted to a private Facebook page for students.
The photo, which depicts a young boy with a drawn-on Hitler mustache and a swastika armband, was posted Friday to the page designated for Great Neck South High School’s freshman class, according to the New York Observer.
The photo’s caption reads, “I’d rather be gassing Jews right now.”
Students say word spread quickly among the freshman class, many of whom are Jewish.
“We were all like freaking out and we told our parents,” said freshman Noa Daskal. “Our parents were so disturbed."
Parents met with school administrators Monday at a school board meeting to address their concerns over the image.
“I'm a child of two Holocaust survivors, so obviously it’s an emotional topic for me,” said parent Alan Mindel. “And there's also a degree of concern for the safety of your kid."
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School officials said the student who posted the picture does not go to Great Neck South, but would not say what town he is from. The student’s school has been notified and officials say they are trying to determine the appropriate punishment.
Great Neck South officials said they contacted police when they discovered the image, which was removed from the Facebook page on Sunday.
Meanwhile, one student who proudly wore his blue Israel Jersey to school on Monday, said that instead of seeing the student who posted the photo punished, he would rather see the student educated.
“He’s just a kid,” said 16-year-old junior Daniel Daskal. “He got this information probably from his parents or someone else that he knows. He's obviously not taught the right things. He should be educated on what exactly did happen and what it is he is saying."
Administrators at the school said they will continue discussions with students and parents regarding anti-Semitism, racism and social media.
