Several Southern California high school students are in hot water after they spelled out racial and anti-gay slurs for photos at a senior picnic, school officials said.
About 10 students from Escondido High School in San Diego County posed in such a way that the letters on their shirts spelled out the offensive words, KGTV reported.
The students had been given pre-approved words to form in their photos at the on-campus event Thursday. After the official photos had been taken, some students decided to regroup to spell out other words, the San Diego station reported.
Photos posted on social media show students spelling out racist and homophobic slurs.
“Parents and guardians of the students involved are being contacted by school administrators, and appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken,” Adriana Lepe-Ramirez, the school’s principal, said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“We all need to understand the power of our words and actions, and we must take responsibility for the decisions we make each and every day,” her statement continued. “At Escondido High School we will continue to work every day to build a culture of family and unity across our community.”
Local police on Friday responded to a threat on social media that was believed to be connected to the photos, CBS 8 reported.
The Escondido Police Department said it received an anonymous tip about a threat of violence during the school’s football game that Friday.
The game was not canceled, though extra law enforcement officers attended out of precaution.