Martin Luther King High School students pictured posing with swastika, Confederate flag

A photo showing students of Martin Luther King High School in Riverside holding a swastika in front of Confederate and Trump 2020 flags spread throughout campus and social media, drawing the attention of school administrators.

Eight students can be seen in the photo, with one throwing up the okay hand symbol, a gesture increasingly associated to represent "white power."

Although the photo was taken off school property, Principal Michael West said the photo was widely distributed around the campus. As reported our sister station Fox 11 Los Angeles, West said that other students reported the image, one of their concerns was it made them feel unsafe at school.

Administrators immediately launched an investigation into the photo, West wrote in an email to parents that school administration. Administrators found "no evidence of planning or intent to commit unlawful acts or to physically harm anyone."

"While we cannot provide specific details due to privacy laws, King High School is taking appropriate action to stop this kind of disruption to school and prevent it from recurring," West stated in the email. 

West further addressed the photo in a video on a school Youtube channel.

“At this time in our country, the frank reality is that, political and social views are strongly held by individuals. Individual views, while people are entitled to them, may be in direct conflict with those of others, our school, and our district values. Teachers and staff, I implore you, join me in devoting time to talk with our students about diversity, tolerance, respect and how to use social media in a positive way,” West said.

Full letter by West to parents: