After a prom photo depicting Wisconsin teens giving the Nazi salute went viral, the school district has decided not to punish any teen involved.

The Wisconsin Baraboo School District's decision follows an investigation into the students that launched early November 2018. The photo, reportedly taken last spring at the Baraboo High School junior prom, caught the attention of media outlets because of the overwhelming number of students giving the Sieg Heil. Only a few students are seen with their arms by their sides.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the district determined the students cannot be punished for exercising their First Amendment rights. Missing information and other factors contributed to the district's decision.

“We cannot know the intentions in the hearts of those who were involved,” administrator Lori Mueller reportedly wrote. “Moreover, because of students’ First Amendment rights, the district is not in a position to punish the students for their actions.”

Mueller initially dismissed the teens' actions in a letter released November 14.

“We understand the moral responsibility we have to be relentless in our work to create a culture in which racism is not tolerated.”

"We understand the moral responsibility we have to be relentless in our work to create a culture in which racism is not tolerated…. We are so very sorry that the actions of some of our students so understandably and deeply hurt people around the world." pic.twitter.com/zvswuTO25E

— Baraboo Schools (@barabooSD) November 14, 2018

HuffPost reports there were community meetings to address the photo and the rise of hate in their community. The meetings are reportedly ongoing.

While the photo may have been a joke, real lives are affected by the desensitization of racism. New data from the FBI indicates a rise in hate crimes which has coincided with the rise of white nationalism and Neo-Nazism.

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Baraboo School District

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