The Latest: Wisconsinites rally for love after Nazi photo

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BARABOO, Wis. (AP) — The Latest on a photo of Wisconsin high school students giving what appears to be a Nazi salute (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

Some members of a Wisconsin community are rallying to give a message of love in response to a photo that appears to show several high school students flashing a Nazi salute.

Members of the Baraboo Young Professionals group invited interested people to come to the county courthouse Monday afternoon to “stomp out the negative attention” to their town and “shadow it with love.” Their invitation asked people to bring symbols of love.

The Baraboo school district was investigating the photo after it began making the rounds on social media. The photo of more than 60 male students dressed in suits shows many with their right arm extended upward. The picture drew widespread condemnation.

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2:05 p.m.

Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers says high school boys giving what appears to be a Nazi salute in a photo has “no place in Wisconsin.”

Evers is the state schools superintendent and defeated Republican Gov. Scott Walker last week.

The Baraboo school district was investigating the photo Monday after it began making the rounds on social media. The photo of more than 60 male students dressed in suits shows many with their right arm extended upward. The picture received widespread condemnation.

Evers says, “As elected officials, we have a responsibility to lead by example for a generation growing up in a climate where they see this behavior condoned.” He says he will be in contact with Baraboo school officials and “intolerance and bigotry must never be tolerated, in our schools or anywhere else.”

Walker spokeswoman Amy Hasenberg did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

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10:20 a.m.

A Wisconsin school district is investigating a photo of a group of high school boys giving what appears to be a Nazi salute.

Baraboo Superintendent Lori Mueller says she became aware of the photo Monday after it was posted on social media. Mueller says the photo appears to have been taken last spring and wasn’t on school grounds.

Mueller says the photo doesn’t reflect the district’s values and that administrators will pursue appropriate action. Baraboo police are also investigating.

The photo of more than 60 male students dressed in suits shows many with their right arm extended upward. The Auschwitz Memorial tweeted that the photo is why it works hard “to explain what is the danger of hateful ideology rising.”

Baraboo is a town of about 12,000 about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northwest of Milwaukee.

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