Parents' outrage over elementary school poster of JESUS saying 'I want you to kill all infidels'

Fight: The parents of an elementary school student have objected strongly to this poster

The parents of a second grade student at Fresno's Hamilton Elementary School are launching a crusade for the administration to tear down some student art.



In the entrance of the California school, a series of 'help wanted' posters are displayed, which were made by students learning about The Crusades, a series of Christian religious wars.



In one poster, Jesus points at the viewer like Uncle Sam and demands 'I want you to kill all infidels.'



And one family from the area says the poster depicting Jesus is more than just a history lesson - it's sacrilege.

'The picture itself I feel goes against everything Christianity stands for,' said an angry Christopher Alfaro to ABC .

He and his wife have been complaining about the poster since March but school officials rebuffed their outcry.



'[They] said something along the lines of "I'll see what I can do," and then hung up the phone,' he said. 'It's kinda driving us nuts and we want to get rid of it.'

In the picture, a long-haired man with a Jesus name tag points at the viewer. The caption reads 'I want you to kill all infidels' above the phrases 'Meet me in Jerusalem' and 'Get a free ticket to Heaven.'

The term 'infidel' means one without faith, no doubt learned in the vocabulary portion of the students' class on The Crusades.

Controversial: Christopher Alfaro, pictured, says the poster depicting Jesus is sacrilege

Plastered: In the entrance of the California school, a series of 'help wanted' posters are displayed, which were made by students learning about The Crusades, a series of Christian religious wars

During the series of holy wars, the Pope and the Catholic Church rallied soldiers to 'restore' Christianity to the lands surrounding Jerusalem, lost to invaders in previous centuries.

Those soldiers killed in battle against the largely Muslim population were granted an indulgence, or a 'ticket to heaven,' in exchange for their lives.

Susan Bedi, a spokesperson for the Fresno Unified District, released a statement in defense of the artwork.

'Students at Hamilton were assigned to create a help wanted poster for soldiers needed to fight in the crusades and write a poem about Joan of arc, the Black Death, or the Magna Carta and create a visual background for it. This was one of several posters displayed,' she said.

Complaints: He and his wife have been complaining about the poster since March but school officials rebuffed their outcry

History Lesson: During The Crusades, the Pope and the Catholic Church rallied soldiers to 'restore' Christianity to the lands surrounding Jerusalem, lost to invaders in previous centuries

Mr Alfaro, a Christian, said that despite the context of the artwork's creation history behind it, the poster still bothers him.

'I do believe common sense tells you, hey this may not be appropriate for a k through 8 school, right in the main lobby where each child passes on their way to school and home,' he said.



Uncle Sam: The school district defended the poster saying students at Hamilton Elementary School were asked to create a help wanted poster for soldiers needed to fight in The Crusades

Holy War: Historic images of The Crusades depict religious men leading the fight in the name of the cross



ABC spoke to Rabbi Rick Winer, who has a degree in religious studies, who said that despite the historic ideas articulated in the poster, the assignment itself was dangerous.



'If we want to encourage people to learn the lessons of post Crusades... I generally find it's more effective to do it through images of peace as opposed to images of horror,' he said.



The picture, made by a seventh grade student, is still on display.



However, the Alfaros did receive a call from the school's principal asking if they would like to schedule a meeting to voice their concerns.