A photo showing 60 high school boys in Wisconsin Nazi saluting in their prom photos went viral and sparked outrage from the community this week. One of the students in the photo, however, gained attention for not making the salute and has since gone on to speak about the experience.
That student, Jordan Blue, told CBS News, “I knew what my morals were and it was not to salute something I firmly didn't believe in.”
A few dozen high school kids in Wisconsin decided to do a nazi salute in a spring prom group picture—allegedly because a parent taking the photo told them to: https://t.co/IBZf7dqf5Kpic.twitter.com/h8xs7EjBZt
— Complex (@Complex) November 13, 2018
Blue was also featured on CNN to clarify that most of his class was in attendance while these photos were being taken, and that the female group photo was never asked to do a similar pose. “It was a huge misrepresentation of the school community and of Baraboo,” said Blue. “Our community is very hurt, very distraught.”
The photographer, Peter Gust, said to CNN that when he asked the students to raise their hands, “I didn’t tell them to salute anything…It was waving goodbye to their parents.”
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
A school official took to Twitter to denounce the issue publicly. The tweet said that the image 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 Superintendent Lori Mueller said the the photo appears to have been taken off of school property last spring, according to CBS News.
An investigation is currently underway by the Baraboo police and the school is reportedly prepared to take legal actions, if necessary.
