PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. – Sweet treats at an Arizona teen's birthday party turned into an offensive message after young party goers decided to decorate their cupcakes with swastika symbols.
Pictures of the swastika topping at the Jewish teen's party began spreading on social media after the teen's mom posted about what happened on Facebook, writing that she hoped it could be used as a teaching moment for parents.
According to the post the girls are all friends and told the Jewish teen's mom they did it to "be funny."
Carlos Galindo-Elvira, the director of the Anti-Defamation League in Arizona says parents need to teach their children about the meaning symbols tied to acts of hate like the swastika.
"When you joke with symbols like the swastika you begin to normalize them and make it very casual within our society," Galindo Elvira said told 12 News.
The mother posted an updated indicating that the girls apologized and that their parents spoke to them about the severity of using symbols like the swastika.