“We even got the black kid to throw it up”
Boys from class of 2019 at Baraboo High School in Baraboo, Wisconsin apparently had no second thoughts about throwing up a Sieg Heil and having the official prom photographer capture the moment. None of the families in attendance seemed to have any issue with the Nazi salute and the photographer even went on to include the photo with others from the session on his website. The photos are now replaced with a bizarre non-apology.
A now-deleted twitter account shared the image, along with #barabooproud and has now sparked outrage that those involved would so brazenly air their racism.
this post has since been deleted, but i just want @barabooSD to be aware of the disturbing actions that are represented in this photograph. this is BEYOND sickening. pic.twitter.com/Fer5heTted
— carlita (@CarlySidey) November 12, 2018
Lori M. Mueller, the school district administrator, has put out a statement: “The photo of students posted to #BarabooProud is not reflective of the educational values and beliefs of the School District of Baraboo. The District will pursue any and all available and appropriate actions, including legal, to address.”
The district has also put out an official response, seemingly distancing themselves from the photo and claiming they can’t comment further as an investigation is taking place.
But, it looks like the district has a history of failing to address racist bullying, as journalist Jules Suzdaltsev has a running thread documenting stories of racist & sexist bullying from boys in the photo and inaction from the school. Multiple students have come forward saying that the white students “regularly use the n-word”, demean Native American and Latinx students, and have shouted “white power” in the hallways.
Imagine for a moment being what appears to be the only student of color present in that picture.
UPDATE: One of the only students who is not going along with the photo has spoken out, noting that the photographer was the one with the brilliant idea for the students to throw up the Nazi salute, and further adding to the list of stories of unchecked bullying and disgusting behavior from the 2019 class from Baraboo High School.
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
