MAGA Hat-Wearing Teens Harassing Native American Elder Spark Condemnation From Hollywood
The Internet erupted in outrage Saturday after a video of young men wearing MAGA hats and attempting to intimidate a Native American man at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington D.C. went viral.
The march is taking place amid the government shutdown, which is nearing the one-month mark and has interfered with many Native Americans’ basic services.
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The boys in the video are from the all-male Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, which had provided bus transportation to the capitol for students to participate in the March for Life. The Diocese of Covington released a statement mid-afternoon Saturday condemning the students’ actions and stated “the matter is being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion.”
Extended statement from the Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School. pic.twitter.com/mqF0D7thYT
— Bob Strickley (@rjstrickleyjr) January 19, 2019
The man in the video is Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder and Vietnam veteran. According to reports, he regularly holds a ceremony for Vietnam vets buried at Arlington. The confrontation took place near the Lincoln Memorial, where he was singing a song of unity for indigenous people.
“It was getting ugly, and I was thinking: ‘I’ve got to find myself an exit out of this situation and finish my song at the Lincoln Memorial,’ ” Phillips recalled to the Washington Post. “I started going that way, and that guy in the hat stood in my way and we were at an impasse. He just blocked my way and wouldn’t allow me to retreat.”
See reactions below.
“Hi, @supmikeclines of @CovCathColonols,” wrote comedian Patton Oswalt. “Great work you guys are doing. Shaping young minds. Take a bow.”
Hi, @supmikeclines of @CovCathColonels. Great work you guys are doing. Shaping young minds. Take a bow. pic.twitter.com/MymFFPtNvh
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 19, 2019
His name is #NathanPhillips of the Omaha Nation. pic.twitter.com/aCTfdMfI0T
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 19, 2019
“Where are their parents, where are their teachers, where are their pastors?” queried NBC’s Joe Scarborough.
Where are their parents, where are their teachers, where are their pastors? https://t.co/5xg1u3Vb5s
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) January 19, 2019
“One Day at a Time” executive producer Mike Royce linked the video to the recent Gillette ad that caused indignation in conservative circles last week, writing, “Tell me again why the Gillette commercial was bad?”
Tell me again why the Gillette commercial was bad? https://t.co/Q7UratvffI
— Mike Royce (@MikeRoyce) January 19, 2019
Kathy Griffin wrote, “MAGA hats. Donald Trump has brought the worst out in our country.”
MAGA hats. Donald Trump has brought the worst out in our country. https://t.co/gYSY4YEINA
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) January 19, 2019
California representative Ted Lieu shared that he attended a Catholic high school and wrote that “Jesus taught us to act in the exact opposite manner of how your students behaved.”
Dear Covington Catholic: I went to a Catholic high school and am a follower of Christ. Jesus taught us to act in the exact opposite manner of how your students behaved.
I will pray for your students and hope that as they mature, their hate can turn into love.@CovCathColonels https://t.co/7bPzyN026L
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 19, 2019
Comedian and actor Paul F. Tompkins also called out Covington Catholic, particularly for making their Twitter page private. “Not only should these kids not have been out there publicly mocking anyone, they shouldn’t have had those f—ing hats on in the first place,” he wrote.
These pathetic cowards. If you’re gonna hide from people because you can’t accept the completely earned anger your students inspired at least take out the publicly viewable parts about how you’re educating young men “spiritually and socially.” pic.twitter.com/5bqojfMz64
— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) January 19, 2019
Not only should these kids not have been out there publicly mocking anyone, they shouldn’t have had those fucking hats on in the first place. I’m sure if you banned them, the parents would be upset, right? Why not model your courage after that of Christ?
— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) January 19, 2019
“Will & Grace” star Debra Messing tweeted that she’d be “ashamed and appalled” if he was her son.
I’d be ashamed and appalled if he was my son. https://t.co/PM3scoFOu3
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) January 19, 2019
Michael Ian Black tweeted an image of the boys alongside one from a ’60s-era lunch counter protest, in which white hecklers poured condiments and other items on the protesters.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) January 19, 2019
Michael McKean retweeted Black’s post, adding “Great again.”
Great again. https://t.co/ALZQ7a7FaW
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) January 19, 2019
“What are we teaching our young people?” asked Alyssa Milano. “How is this ok? Please help me understand. Because right now I feel like my heart is living outside of my body.”
This is Trump’s America. And it brought me to tears. What are we teaching our young people? Why is this ok? How is this ok? Please help me understand. Because right now I feel like my heart is living outside of my body. https://t.co/QMxMDxNjvr
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 19, 2019
“If Beale Street Could Talk” director Barry Jenkins responded to director Matthew A. Cherry’s post with a photo from lunch counter protests as well, adding “Same kid. MAGA indeed”
Same kid. MAGA indeed pic.twitter.com/WZLcWYejUN
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) January 19, 2019
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