GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Rabbi Peter Levi was horrified when he learned that a video showing about 10 water polo athletes from Pacifica High School in Garden Grove flashing Nazi salutes and singing a Nazi anthem had surfaced.

“It’s not again and again and again, because we’re seeing teens in high school over and over again, capturing themselves in pictures and on video being hateful,” said Rabbi Levi.

The video was recorded on Snapchat during an award ceremony in November 2018.

“If we normalize one level, it enables the potential for escalation. Not that everyone will escalate it. There’s too many people who are going to act on that and this country has seen too much hideous murderous violence based on this extremist ideology,” said Rabbi Levi.

 The rabbi is the regional director for the Anti-Defamation League in Orange County and Long Beach. The organization's mission is to fight anti-semitism through education, legislation and advocacy. The rabbi says the Garden Grove Unified School District reached out to him after the video became public.

The video was recorded nine months ago.

“Right now, everything is on the table about anti-bias education for teachers, students and programs. Our goal is to be a resource or support for the teachers and administrators,” said Rabbi Levi.

Rabbi Levy says changes need to be made starting from the top. He says leaders need to condemn these acts before hate speech has the power to escalate into dangerous situations. He believes it can be done with good speech.

The Garden Grove School District released this statement:

"Garden Grove Unified School District and Pacifica High School strongly condemn a video recorded last year of some students who engaged in offensive Nazi-related gestures."

The video was filmed prior to the start of an after school hours, off-campus student athletics banquet in an empty and unsupervised room at the facility. The video was shared within a small group of students on Snapchat. 

It was not brought to the attention of the administration of Pacifica High School until March of 2019, four months following the banquet, at which time school administrators took immediate action and addressed the situation with all students and families involved.

Federal law (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) prohibits the district from disclosing details of student discipline.  

In response to this unfortunate incident, district and school administrators have reached out to community organizations to provide support that will continue to ensure an anti-bias learning environment and address issues of hate, bias, and exclusion with all staff and students. Pacifica High School, along with our other district schools, will be working with students, staff, and parents to continue to address these issues in the fall in collaboration with agencies dedicated to anti-bias education. 

A highly diverse district, Garden Grove Unified School District actively combats bias and bullying, remains focused on fostering an inclusive environment for all stakeholders and is committed to holding students accountable, educating them on the consequences of their choices and the impact these actions have on our schools and community at large.

In 2017, the district passed Resolution 20, an ongoing commitment to safe and welcoming schools, and in the new school year the district will be launching a campaign for student, staff, and community wellness. As a part of the “Choose Wellness” campaign, students, staff, and parents from across the district will come together to address issues of well-being and a welcoming climate, including addressing bullying, hate speech/actions, and our role in building inclusive communities which reflect equity and respect for all.

The Garden Grove Unified School District School Board will be meeting on Tuesday, August 20, at 7:00 p.m. The video is not mentioned on the agenda.

For more information about the Anti-Defamation League and what it offers, visit: orangecounty.adl.org