In one of the more horrifying photos of high schoolers to go viral in recent memory, a picture of dozens of teenage boys performing Nazi salutes, is circulating the internet. Sadly, this isn’t a decades-old picture back to haunt us in the current political climate.
The picture, captured on the steps of the courthouse in Baraboo, Wisconsin, was apparently taken just last spring. According to some sources, the picture was taken during prom.
Almost all of the young men in the photo, who are mostly white-appearing, have their right arm raised above their heads, in what is easily associated with ‘Sieg Heil.’ Sound familiar? The gesture was a popular greeting when Hitler led Germany.
One of the teens makes a less familiar gesture that is just as disgusting. Standing in the front row, he forms an OK sign using his index finger and thumb. At first, this seems innocuous, but alas. It’s actually a symbol that is popular among white supremacists and the far Right. For example, members of the Proud Boys have been photographed making the same symbol.
Why is this image making the rounds now? It was just uploaded onto Twitter with a caption reading: “We even got the black kid to throw it up." The image has since been deleted.
A former student in Baraboo, Carly Sidey, tweeted a screenshot of the post, expressing her disgust. In her tweet on Sunday, she wrote:
”This post has since been deleted, but i just want [Baraboo School District] to be aware of the disturbing actions that are represented in this photograph. This is BEYOND sickening.”
Journalist Jules Suzdaltsev picked it up, asking for more information:
People are demanding answers for this blatant display of anti-Semitism and racism.
In the top right of the photo, you can see one student clearly not making the gesture. He actually identified himself and gave a statement to Suzdaltsev.
“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.”
The photographer in question has yet to be identified.
Lori Mueller, the Baraboo School District administrator, said they are investigating the situation:
The local police department also took to Twitter to say it is investigating:
Interestingly, the original post used the hashtag “barabooproud,” which otherwise seems to be used for Baraboo local events and sports activities.
The school district sent a letter to parents, also uploaded to Twitter, promising it is launching an investigation:
At this time, it’ s unclear whether school officials were present when this photo was taken, or whether anyone from the school administration had seen the photo before now.