Nazi Salute PHOTO: Maine High School Girls Basketball Players' Hitler Gesture, Anti-Semitic Language Causes Backlash, Goes Viral

Reports confirm that three members of the Greely High School girls' varsity basketball team in Cumberland, Maine were reprimanded this week after a controversial Nazi salute photo hit the web. In the image, two uniformed basketball players are seen giving the anti-Semitic Hitler gesture, as a third member sits on the ground between them flaunting the peace sign. All three players allegedly used biased and inappropriate language on Twitter, and one of the young students was even nicknamed "Hitler" on the team. Greely principal Dan McKeone and athletic director David Shapiro recently sent out a letter to parents stating that the girls had been properly disciplined because such inappropriate behavior is "simply unacceptable."

The Nazi salute photo eventually surfaced on Facebook and Twitter and soon went viral... some people were angry and offended, while others still wonder exactly what the big deal is...

Dean Kehr: "Whatever happened to 'kids-being-kids?'"

Seth Stouber: "I love how some people are saying it's no big deal. If it was something towards blacks people would be screaming."

Larry Heinz: "Silly is all it is. No big deal!"

Jackson McGinley: "Bullies in action."

In a letter released to parents about the Nazi salute photo, Greely High School principal McKeone and athletic director Shapiro explain that "two girls appear to be giving the Adolf Hitler-style salute while a third girls sits between them. They say one team member has been nicknamed Hitler. All three girls are wearing their basketball uniforms." The letter also includes 3 pages of tweets allegedly written by the girls that use offensive and anti-Semitic language. In several tweets, the girls continuously refer to one teammate as "Hitler."

Since all three students are minors, their identities were not released. However, WLBZ dug up some rather offensive tweets allegedly posted by one of the players:

"So Jewish to have prac on Christmas Eve day."

And

"If ---- picked me up, she would've made me do sprints, then put me in a gas chamber."

McKeone insists that each player has been properly disciplined, although the exact nature of the punishments remains undisclosed. However, McKeone doesn't believe that they intended any true hate or bias. A school assembly is currently scheduled in which a member of the Attorney General's Office will come to speak about prejudice, hate speech, and bullying.

The letter sent home to parents also stated, "...These events, while disturbing, also provide us with an opportunity to teach our children about tolerance and respect... We will be working with the team in order to help them gain a better understanding of the ramifications of incidents such as this. We will also been looking for additional opportunities to educate the greater school community..."

"These were kids that made a mistake, and they learned from it, and they're moving forward," McKeone said.