Like logo, like students? Wisconsin school breaks the internet with its ‘Nazi salute’ teens
A Wisconsin high school has found itself at the center of controversy – and a police investigation – after a group of students were photographed making Nazi salutes and far-right hand gestures at their prom.
The photo of some 50 young men from the Baraboo High School performing the stiff-armed ‘Sieg Heil’ greeting quickly went viral online. The photo was taken during the students’ junior prom, but resurfaced last weekend when it was posted to Twitter with the caption: “We even got the black kid to throw it up.”
Baraboo is better than this. In a mob of madness, be like the dude on the top right. pic.twitter.com/dM8DTPqSip
— Charlie Berens (@CharlieBerens) November 12, 2018
Twitter users were baffled by the image and wondered what could have prompted the suit-clad teens to extend their right arms in the air in the style of the infamous Nazi salute.
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 @CarlySideypic.twitter.com/BL8lDVLMA4
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
School District Superintendent Lori Mueller tweeted that the photograph was “not reflective of the educational values and beliefs” of the school – but Twitter was not entirely convinced, with many pointing out that the school district’s logo was reminiscent of a Nazi eagle.
I would imagine this has been pointed out but did anyone else have this look 😳 when they saw the logo for the Baraboo High School district? I mean I’m not saying they’re Nazis but just the coincidence is crazy! #weird#BarabooProud#TuesdayThoughts#IDK#MorningJoepic.twitter.com/Dw98jRU7sb
— Truthtalker 🌊🌊🌊 (@Brotatopics) November 13, 2018
Baraboo HS, where 50+ boys were photographed giving the Nazi salute, sure has a weird official logo. pic.twitter.com/RvHKJvLSOY
— S.I. Rosenbaum (@sirosenbaum) November 12, 2018
Your school symbol looks like a Nazi war eagle wtf even pic.twitter.com/wzn0Q0Xksw
— DUSK is out Dec 10th (@DaveOshry) November 12, 2018
Some called for the students and any teachers present when the photo was taken to be expelled or fired immediately.
Every student in that photo should be expelled with the exception of the kid who is scared to death. This didn’t happen overnight.
— Dan Balitewicz (@DanBalitewicz) November 12, 2018
I hope every kid in that photo (along with their parents) is now worried about their college applications. They should be. Oh and doubtful they'll be getting jobs once their names get tagged to the photo. Hope mommy and daddy don't mind jr living at home until he's 50.
— Danean (@PdxDanean) November 12, 2018
Others suggested that a visit to a nearby veterans hospital to speak to men who fought in World War II – or a day spent watching documentary reels from Nazi concentration camps – might set the students straight.
Given that the VA Hospital in Madison is less than an hour away, perhaps some of these young gentlemen would like to go there and tell some of the WWII vets there why they thought it would be fun to give a Nazi salute in a prom photo?
— Christopher Branski (@Christo81617237) November 12, 2018
If I may make a suggestion as a historian:Invite these young men + at least 1 parent for mandatory full-day event to 1) watch Allies’ documentary reels of Dachau & other camps, then 2) have discussions with WWII vets.Anyone not attending won’t graduate. #DeNazification#Baraboopic.twitter.com/g2S06oRiEE
— Dirk H Breiding (@dhbreiding) November 12, 2018
The school itself called the Nazi salute “an extremely inappropriate gesture” but attempted to distance itself from the controversy, pointing out that photograph had not been taken on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event.
The controversy even reached the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland, which denounced the image, saying that people needed to understand “the danger of hateful ideology” rising up. “Auschwitz with its gas chambers was at the very end of the long process of normalizing and accommodating hatred,” the museum said.
But that was all only the beginning of the school’s bashing.
New details then began to emerge online as people claiming to be students or former students of the school contacted journalists with stories of bullying and racial harassment, which they said the school did not act upon. One journalist said he had received “probably over 100 stories” from Baraboo students and parents.
So I've received probably over 100 stories from Baraboo students, parents, neighbors etc, and I'd like to find a way to share them without creating a 100-thread tweet. Any ideas on how to publish these cleanly?
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 13, 2018
This also jumped out at me. Racism is obviously rampant at Baraboo High, but it's worth unpacking the hatred directed against Native Americans. That's part of a broader pattern in the Upper Midwest. pic.twitter.com/j2qo9fsilP
— David Walsh (@DavidAstinWalsh) November 13, 2018
Someone who would like to remain anonymous just sent me this message and picture of herself that was posted by a classmate.Seriously, what is going on with this school? @BarabooSDpic.twitter.com/pHGbnelHct
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018
In a statement on Facebook, the Baraboo Police Department said it was “aware” of the photo and was assisting the school district with its investigation.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
