A Nazi-themed invitation to a high school ball has sparked outrage after two students were pictured with the invitation while also performing Nazi salutes.
Derided on social media by some as a disgusting and shocking act, the two Minnetonka High School (MHS) students are seen in the photo, posted on a private Instagram, holding what appears to be a large cardboard invitation to the school's "Sweethearts" dance.
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The invitation reads: "Sweethearts would be a Hit(ler) w/ you, and I could Nazi myself going w/ anyone else. Be Mein? Yes or Nein?"
The post was accompanied by the caption stating: "I would like to state I am not anti-Semitic in any way, I hate all races equally".
After condemning the invitation, the school wrote to students' parents noting they would be disciplined, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
"While I do not know whether it was an intentionally hateful message or was created out of ignorance, be assured the students will be disciplined for their actions," said Supt Dennis Peterson.
The school is now using the opportunity to educate students about Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.
"While we do units on this in middle school, and we have had several Holocaust survivors speak at MHS, it has apparently not been enough to prevent yesterday's incident."
While many on social media agreed the students needed to be taught about World War II and one said it wasn't fair focussing on just two students, others said they should be immediately expelled.
"I'm an alumni of Minnetonka and my father is a retired principle of Minnetonka High School. I'm so disgusted, ashamed, disappointed, shocked, hurt, angry and more. Hate is not funny," said one man.
The Minnesota Jewish Community Relations Council said in a statement that the psot was "hateful and anti-Semitic"
"Such images both insult the memory of Hitler's victims, as well as the heroic Minnesotans who fought to defeat Nazism," said the council's executive director, Steve Hunegs.
Newshub.
