‘Overtly racist’ messages involving Newport Harbor High students spur school district investigation

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District said Friday that it is investigating a series of “overtly racist� messages shared in a private Instagram group chat that included students from Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach.

In a statement sent to parents and the Newport Harbor community, the district stated that though “these online interactions are not school-related, we address them as they come to our attention and when they impact the school. We are in the process of gathering information.�

In a screenshot of one exchange that a student shared with the Daily Pilot, a participant in the conversation asked others if they “wanted anything from alabama/mississippi? I’ll get you a real confederate flag.�

One person wrote back, “Omfg yes plz,� while another wrote, “What do you want? Do they still sell black people down there?�

Full coverage of the scandal surrounding the student party where Nazi symbols were displayed and put on social media »

The first participant replied, “If they do, I’ll get everyone a new plantation worker.�

One person who saw the exchange wrote on social media that “Newport Harbor is really the home of some sketchy ... people… these are Newport students.�

Another responded to criticism of the posts by writing, “First of all, we are not racist people at all; the people who posted this literally don’t like us and are trying to make us look bad for everything. I’m tired of people always attacking us.�

The incident comes two months after an off-campus party attended by students from Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools where some were pictured doing Nazi salutes over a beer-pong swastika.

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