Students pictured giving Nazi salute in school photo
A school is considering legal action after a photo of students appearing to give the Nazi salute went viral, prompting an apology from the photographer.
The photo of a large group of male students, wearing suits adorned with prom corsages, shows many throwing one arm straight in the air, like the greeting used in Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
News of the picture also ignited allegations from other students at Baraboo High School that their Wisconsin, US school routinely ignores racism. However the school district was quick to claim it was a “hate-free environment”.
If anybody from Baraboo High School in Wisconsin can clue me in on why it appears the entire male class of 2018 is throwing up a Sig Heil during their prom photos – that would be great.
h/t @CarlySidey pic.twitter.com/BL8lDVLMA4
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
The photo of students posted to #BarabooProud is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo. We are investigating and will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address.
— Baraboo Schools (@barabooSD) November 12, 2018
“The photo of students posted to #BarabooProud is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo,” read a Monday tweet from the Baraboo School District in Wisconsin, US.
“We are investigating and will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address.”
Baraboo School District ‘a hate-free environment’
The school district Superintendent Lori Mueller also tweeted a letter sent to parents, which reiterated the district’s commitment to investigate with the help of local law enforcement.
It read in part, “Early this morning, a photo that was taken last spring of some Baraboo School District students who appear to be making extremely inappropriate gestures began circulating on social media.
“With that, we want to be very clear. The Baraboo School District is a hate-free environment where all people, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ancestry are respected and celebrated.”
The Baraboo School District sent the following letter to parents this morning in response to a photo circulating on social media. We are launching an investigation, and as such, are unable to provide additional details at this time. pic.twitter.com/oRxcl82lJT
— Baraboo Schools (@barabooSD) November 12, 2018
The photograph was brought to national attention on Sunday night after journalist Jules Suzdaltsev tweeted it with an acknowledgment to a private account, writing, “If anybody from Baraboo High School in Wisconsin can clue me in on why it appears the entire male class of 2018 is throwing up a Sig Heil during their prom photos — that would be great.”
He also tweeted of the original poster, “We even got the black kid to throw it up. #BarabooProud.”
Baraboo High School student claims ‘bullying’ culture
Suzdaltsev shared a message he received from one student identified as Jordan Blue, who claims he was “uncomfortable” with the picture.
“The photo was taken during our Junior Prom photos. I clearly am uncomfortable with what was happening. I couldn’t leave the photo as it was taken within 5 seconds. The photographer took the photos telling us to make the sign, I knew what my morals were and it was not to salute something I firmly didn’t believe in.
“I attend BHS [Balaboo High School], these classmates have bullied me since entering middle school, and I have struggled with it my entire life and nothing has changed,” Jordan wrote.
Yahoo Lifestyle could not reach the student for comment.
I spoke with the only student who is visibly not comfortable with the “salute”, he provided this statement. pic.twitter.com/HbNBc8xLOK
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
Additionally, current and former Baraboo students who said they had encountered racism while attending the school messaged Suzdaltsev.
One anonymous graduate sent a screenshot of a fellow student calling her the N-word.
“I’m mixed [race] and a classmate of mine posted this about me,” she wrote.
“When my friend reported it to the school, they did nothing. They said, ‘They couldn’t prove it was her’ even though one of her friends told them it was her.”
A different teen also told Suzdaltsev that he was bullied on social media by a classmate for not supporting President Trump.
I am being flooded with messages from students of this school about some of the guys in the group photo.
It sounds like there is a lot of racist bullying and the school tends to do nothing about it. pic.twitter.com/yvPZWI196A
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
A third student tweeted a Snapchat screenshot of two Latino students with the caption, “Dirty Mexicans inbound.”
Photographer removes ‘Nazi salute’ picture from website
Suzdaltsev tweeted a screenshot of a cryptic apology from the photographer, who removed the image from his website.
“Due to malevolent behavior on the part of some in society, this page has been modified,” the photographer allegedly wrote.
“It is too bad that there are some in society who can and do take the time to be jerks… the internet can be a wonderful tool but for some, there is an overwhelming urge to destroy. The destruction may not be physical but instead, it can be bullying that is intellectual or emotional. To anyone that was hurt, I sincerely apologize…”
The identity of the photographer is not confirmed, however, Yahoo Lifestyle reached out to the man who allegedly shot the photo and did not receive a response.
The photographer has removed the photo from his website and updated with this… confusing message. pic.twitter.com/vx4r9Eo1zZ
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018