The boys of Baraboo High School’s class of 2019 turned the school’s #BarbabooProud hashtag on its head after they decided it would be fun to give a Nazi salute while taking their junior prom photos, adding to the popular theory that every teenage boy is a mindless nutsack.
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According to local news outlets, the photo was taken on the steps of the Sauk County Courthouse last spring and shows most of the 50 students from the Wisconsin high school with their arms outstretched and amused expressions on their faces:
Correction: The photo of students doing salutes is the Class of 2019, not 2018, and was taken during their junior prom.
Here is a higher resolution photo (which was apparently taken by one of the parents, and is on the parent's website as part of their collective prom photos.) pic.twitter.com/lkrFln9pyz
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
The controversial pic quickly went viral over the weekend with an ironic use of the hashtag #BarabooPround, which is usually used by the district to promote its athletics program and school spirit.
District Administrator Lori Mueller took to Twitter to address the accidental Hitler youth pamphlet, confirming that school officials were investigating with the Baraboo Police Department and, of course, that the image was “not reflective of the educational values and beliefs” of the school.
Imagine the shame of having a son in this photo. #barabooSHAME #barabooproud @GoBaraboo pic.twitter.com/5rjZeOBJYN
— Julie Silver (@JulieAnnSilver) November 12, 2018
For what it’s worth, not every single one of the boys performed the offensive gesture.
Student Jordan Blue, one of the teens in the photo not comfortable making the “salute,” told reporter Jules Suzdaltsev that the photographer who took the group’s junior prom photos was the one who suggested they make the pose. Unlike his many classmates, Blue said he knew that making the gesture would go against his morals, writing:
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
The photographer has been identified as local motorcycle photographer Peter Gust, who has since replaced the image on his website with this bizarre message:
“Updated page: due malevolent behavior on the part of some in society; this page has been modified. It is too bad that there are those in society who can and do take the time to be jerks; knowingly and willingly 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.
To those who have harmed them, we as society often ignore them I have chosen not to do that. YOU ARE JERKS! Grow up!”
Other alleged students at Baraboo have since come forward sharing their own claims of “disgustingly racist” and transphobic behavior from their peers.
The controversy has triggered responses from state officials, including State Senator Jon Erpenbach, who said President Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric and failure to condemn other acts of racism has set a bad example for these students.
Baraboo High School was placed in a “soft hold” on Monday, which prevented students from leaving school premises to take an off-campus lunch. It’s unclear if the students in the photo will be disciplined further.
Let’s hope the rage of the internet does some disciplining here.
[Image via Baraboo School District.]
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