Four California Teachers Suspended For Smiling And Posing In Picture With Noose

A photo of four California school teachers has landed them in hot water this week.

The picture in question was of four Summerwind Elementary School educators from Palmdale, California, smiling together as they posed with one of them holding a noose. The school’s principal originally emailed the picture, which was then shared hundreds of times via email and on social media, NBC News reports.

African American parents with children at the school almost immediately voiced their anger and discomfort at the image. Others have called for the educators to be fired for the apparent display of insensitivity.

“I feel like he’s not safe here. It brings you back to slavery days,” parent Misty Evans told a local NBC affiliate.

State Assemblyman Tom Lackey, who previously sat on the Palmdale school board, took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the situation as well.

“The Palmdale School District holds all employees to the highest standards and expectations,” Palmdale schools superintendent Raul Maldonado said in a statement on Friday. He continued, “We will not stop until we find out exactly what did occur. We will not tolerate this type of behavior in our schools.”

As a result of the picture, the four teachers and the principal have been put on administrative leave until an investigation is completed.