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News > U.S.

'Make America Great Again' Students Mock Indigenous March

  • 'Make America Great Again' Students Mock Indigenous March.

    'Make America Great Again' Students Mock Indigenous March. | Photo: Reuters

Published 20 January 2019
Opinion

Officials from Covington Catholic High School have condemned the actions of many of their students after the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington was marred by taunting and prejudice.

A Catholic archdiocese outside Cincinnati is investigating the actions of some of its high school students during the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington Friday.

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Students wearing 'Make America Great Again' hats taunted a Native American troupe as it performed the "American Indian Movement" song about strength and courage.

And the Diocese of Covington criticized any of their students who participated in the action, which broke out as a group from the school whuch was in Washington for the anti-abortion event March for Life.

Its statement, forwarded by archdiocese spokeswoman Laura Keener, singled out Native American leader Nathan Phillips, a Vietnam War veteran and Omaha elder. In social media videos of the incident Phillips can be seen singing as a male taunts him smilingly and gets close to his face.

"We condemn the actions of the Covington Catholic High School students towards Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general, Jan. 18, after the March for Life, in Washington, D.C.," the archdiocese's statement reads. "We extend our deepest apologies to Mr. Phillips. This behavior is opposed to the Church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person."

"The matter is being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion," the joint statement between the high school, and archdiocese, said.

Phillips told NBC News that some of the young people surrounding him chanted support for President Trump's proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Chants of 'Build the wall' and other things that were even worse," he said as he stood in the rain in Washington. "They were brought up to believe I’m less than human."

"I’m still trying to process it," Phillips said. "Who they were, who those young folks were, where they came from and who’s bringing them up. Where were the chaperones? How did this come to take this point ... ?"

"It’s gonna take us all to come together," he added. "I’m about prayer, but then you have to have some action to go with it."

Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Deb Haaland, a member of New Mexico's Laguna Pueblo tribe, said on Twitter that Phillips (a former Vietnam veteran) had risked his life for his country, and that the students showed "blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance".

Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, a Democrat, said the "appalling" footage had rightly inspired "a tidal wave of condemnation" and that his town was now being linked with "intolerance and ethnic intimidation" because of the boys' actions.

"The videos being shared across the nation do NOT represent the core beliefs and values of this city," he said in a statement.

Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Democratic secretary of state for Kentucky, said the children were not solely to blame.

"I turn to the adults and administration that are charged with teaching them, and to others who are silently letting others promote this behavior," she said on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Phillips longed for a U.S. that would rekindle its family values, and historical roots, "This is indigenous land. We're not supposed to have walls here. We never did for a millennium, before anyone else came here, we never had walls. We never had a prison. We always took care of our elders. We took care of our children. We always provided for them. We taught them right from wrong. I wish I could see the energy of the young mass of young men, put that energy into making this country really, really great, helping those that are hungry."

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