Out of Baraboo, Wisconsin, a photo has surfaced of a group of teenage boys on their way to prom posing in a photo giving what appears to be the Nazi salute.
Apparently it was the photographer, Peter Gust who prompted these boys to "raise their hands" like they were waving goodbye to their parents as their childhood was coming to a close now that they were attending prom. Whether that is true or not, that is what the photographer is claiming.
One student, Jordan Blue claims he knew what was going to happen once the photographer asked everyone to raise up their hands. When asked whether the photographer actually hinted at making a Nazi-like gesture, Blue said: "He did not say raise your hand in a Nazi symbol way. And I'm pretty sure my classmates just interpreted as raise your hand, let's do this as a joke." Blue was one of the only boys that chose to not particate in the photographer's prompting. He said: "It did not represent my morals, and I could not do something that I didn't believe in."
Gust, the photographer has been defending these student boys after the nation has been criticizing them for their actions. He went on a local TV station claiming the gestures are being taken out of context and that they were just answering his call to wave goodbye to their parents. He went on to say "for society to now turn it around and now blame these kids is absolutely wrong."
The School Committee board is demanding action but what action should be taken? Is it the school's responsibility or the parents? Now that this photo has gone viral and grabbed national attention, it certainly paints these young men in a bad light, whether intentional or not. Thoughts?
-Producer Lightning