2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Viral race-related controversy}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} |
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{{Infobox event |
{{Infobox event |
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| title = |
| title = 2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation |
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| image = 2019-01-18 Sandmann Phillips.jpg |
| image = 2019-01-18 Sandmann Phillips.jpg |
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| caption =A still |
| caption =A still from a viral video of Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann and Native American [[Nathan Phillips (activist)|Nathan Phillips]] |
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| participants =*Students of the [[Covington Catholic High School]] attending |
| participants =*Students of the [[Covington Catholic High School]] attending an [[anti-abortion]] [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] rally |
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*[[Nathan Phillips (activist)|Nathan Phillips]] and other [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] marchers attending the [[Indigenous Peoples March]] |
*[[Nathan Phillips (activist)|Nathan Phillips]] and other [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] marchers attending the [[Indigenous Peoples March]] |
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*Members of the [[Black Hebrew Israelites]] who were [[street preacher|street preaching]] near the Lincoln Memorial |
*Members of the [[Black Hebrew Israelites]] who were [[street preacher|street preaching]] near the Lincoln Memorial |
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On January 18, 2019, a |
On January 18, 2019, a confrontation between groups of political demonstrators took place near the [[Lincoln Memorial]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] The interaction between [[Covington Catholic High School]] student Nicholas Sandmann and Native American [[Nathan Phillips (activist)|Nathan Phillips]]<ref>{{Cite web |last= Goodman |first=Alana |date=January 23, 2019 |title=Native American activist Nathan Phillips has violent criminal record and escaped from jail as teenager |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/native-american-activist-nathan-phillips-has-violent-criminal-record-and-escaped-from-jail-as-teenager |access-date=2020-08-26 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}}</ref> was captured in photos and videos disseminated by major media outlets. Other recordings of the incident showed that initial media reports had omitted details.<ref name="Vox_Beauchamp_20190123">{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/23/18192831/covington-catholic-maga-hat-native-american-nathan-phillips|title=The real politics behind the Covington Catholic controversy, explained|last1=Beauchamp|first1=Zach|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019|agency=Vox|quote=The Covington Catholic fight is American politics in microcosm.... Why is the Covington Catholic controversy still the nation's biggest story? It started simply enough. A short viral video shot on Friday shows a group of white teens, some wearing "Make America Great Again" hats, a slogan popularized by Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign. standing near a smaller group of Native Americans including an elder from the Omaha tribe named Nathan Phillips. It's been four days since the initial incident, which had nothing like the policy significance of the still-ongoing shutdown fight. Still, it's the most divisive and talked-about issue in American public life right now. Why? The answer is that the Covington videos are kind of Rorschach test, showing each side seeing what it wants to in a way that's more revealing about their own worldviews than the actual incident.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grinberg |first1=Emanuella |title=A new video shows a different side of the encounter between a Native American elder and teens in MAGA hats |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/us/maga-hat-teens-native-american-second-video/index.html |access-date=January 24, 2019 |agency=CNN |date=January 23, 2019 |quote=Kaya Taitano, who shot the viral video, said the teens were chanting "Build the wall" and "Trump 2020." CNN.}}</ref><ref name="HuffPost_Robins_20190122">{{cite news |last1=Robins-Early |first1=Nick |title=House Intelligence Committee Looking Into Tweet About Viral MAGA Hat Teen Video |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/maga-teen-video-house-intelligence-committee_us_5c47914be4b025aa26bdf2be |access-date=January 28, 2019 |agency=Huffington Post |date=January 22, 2019 |quote=The House Intelligence Committee has asked Twitter to provide more information about a viral video of jeering high school students in Make America Great Again hats surrounding a Native American man, a committee aide told HuffPost. The Twitter account @2020fight on Friday posted the minute-long video of Covington Catholic High School students and Omaha tribe elder Nathan Phillips, and was viewed over 2.5 million times in the days since.}}</ref> Reports of the incident triggered outrage in the United States, including calls to [[doxing|dox]] the students,<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Tyler |title=Kathy Griffin calls for doxing student's identities after viral video at Native American march: 'Shame them' |website=[[Fox News]] |date=January 21, 2019 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kathy-griffin-calls-for-doxing-students-in-viral-video-shame-them |access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> after stories falsely reported the Catholic students acted as the aggressors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Rey |title=Report finds no evidence of 'offensive or racist statements' by Kentucky students |website=[[CNN]] |date=February 13, 2019 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/13/us/covington-catholic-high-school-report/index.html |access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> The students received death threats and Covington Catholic High School temporarily closed due to fears for its students' safety.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dias |first1=Elizabeth |title=After Viral Video, Families of Covington Are Swiftly Circling to Protect Their Boys |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/us/viral-video-covington-kentucky.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> |
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The short videos of the encounter that were uploaded to |
The short videos of the encounter that were uploaded to [[social media]] platforms received millions of views<ref name="WaPo_20190119"/> and were widely shared. At first, the anger focused on the students and the school, which, along with some of the students, received threats of violence.<ref name="NYT_20190123"/> As more videos were released, diverging views about what had happened polarized Americans. The incident was described by ''[[The New York Times]]'' as an "explosive convergence of race, religion and ideological beliefs"<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture">{{Cite news|last1=Mervosh|first1=Sarah|last2=Rueb|first2=Emily S.|date=January 20, 2019|title=Fuller Picture Emerges of Viral Video Between Native American Man and Catholic Students|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/20/us/nathan-phillips-covington.html|access-date=January 21, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and a ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' editorial called it the "nation's biggest story".<ref name="Vox_Beauchamp_20190123"/> |
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In February 2019, the Covington Diocese released an investigation report of a [[Private investigator|private detective agency]] hired by the diocese and the high school, stating that the report exonerated the students.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> The American news media has been criticized for covering the incident without fully investigating what occurred and fueling controversy and outrage. Covington students have filed a number of multi-million dollar [[Defamation|defamation lawsuits]] against news agencies. Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington student featured in most media coverage of the incident, settled lawsuits with [[CNN]], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', and [[NBCUniversal]].<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/07/media/cnn-settles-lawsuit-viral-video/index.html CNN settles lawsuit with Nick Sandmann stemming from viral video controversy] CNN, January 7, 2020</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Nick Sandmann settles $250M lawsuit with the Washington Post |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nick-sandmann-settles-250m-lawsuit-with-the-washington-post/ar-BB179mYc |access-date=July 24, 2020 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref name="CE">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/12/17/covington-catholic-grad-nick-sandmann-reaches-settlement-nbc/8946470002/|title=Covington Catholic graduate Nicholas Sandmann reaches settlement in lawsuit against NBC|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|last=Bentley|first=Quinlan|date=December 17, 2021|accessdate=December 17, 2021}}</ref> He later lost his suits against ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[CBS]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', and [[Gannett]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/former-covington-catholic-student-nick-sandmann-loses-defamation-lawsuits-against-cbs-abc-nyt-and-others/|title=Former Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann Loses Defamation Lawsuits Against CBS, ABC, NYT, and Others|date=July 27, 2022 }}</ref> |
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==Incident== |
==Incident== |
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[[File:LincolnMemorialAussen.JPG|alt=The stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, the site of the incident, pictured here in July 2004.|thumb|The stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, the site of the incident, |
[[File:LincolnMemorialAussen.JPG|alt=The stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, the site of the incident, pictured here in July 2004.|thumb|The stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, the site of the incident, seen in July 2004]] |
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In the afternoon of January 18, 2019, on the Plaza of the [[Lincoln Memorial]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] two separate marches were held: the [[Indigenous Peoples March]], which had the purpose of raising awareness of [[indigenous people]]'s issues,<ref name="davis1">{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Alli|date=January 20, 2019|title=Omaha Tribe member Nathan Phillips in spotlight in face of taunting teens|url=http://sandhillsexpress.com/state-news/omaha-tribe-member-nathan-phillips-in-spotlight-in-face-of-taunting-teens/|access-date=January 23, 2019|website=Sandhills Express|language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]],<ref name="NYT_20190123" /> which had the purpose of raising awareness of [[Anti-abortion movements|anti-abortion]] issues. For about ten minutes,<ref name="NYT_20190123" /> there was an overlap on the Plaza of a small group from the Indigenous Peoples March and a larger group of students aged 15 and 16 from the all-male [[Covington Catholic High School]] in [[Park Hills, Kentucky]], who were gathering at their appointed meeting place at the steps of the Plaza to wait for their buses to return home. Before the students arrived, a group of five [[Black Hebrew Israelites]] stood in a row "shouting scripture from red books" and taunting passersby.<ref name="NYT_20190123" /><ref name="davis1" /><ref name="bengal1">{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/nathan-phillips-activist-song-peaceful-resistance-hope|title=The Power of Nathan Phillips's Song|last=Bengal|first=Rebecca|date=January 21, 2019|website=Vogue|language=en|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref>{{efn|The ''March For Life'' also had a permit for [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] demonstrations on the [[National Mall]] on that day. According to ''The Cut'', Covington Catholic sends an annual delegation of its students to attend the anti-abortion March For Life in Washington.<ref name="thecut_Ryan_20190119"/>}}<ref name="lockhart1">{{cite web | url = https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/1/22/18193352/black-hebrew-israelites-covington-catholic-phillips-maga | title = The Black Hebrew Israelites and their connection to the Covington controversy, explained | first = P.R. |last =Lockhart | date =January 22, 2019 | access-date = January 24, 2019 | work = [[Vox (website)|Vox]] |quote=where one of their members was holding a faith-teaching ceremony to his other followers}}</ref> As the students began to arrive, the Black Hebrew Israelites began to taunt them.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture" /><ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121">{{cite web|last=Sidner|first=Sara|date=January 21, 2019|title=Trump Proposes DACA Deal for His Border Wall Funding; Furloughed Worker Shares Impacts of Historic Shutdown; Rudy Giuliani Admits Trump and Cohen May Have Discussed Testimony; Immigration Laws; Oscars; CNN Heroes; Politics; Italy Elections; Second Amendment Rights; Reality TV; Entertainment|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1901/20/cnr.03.html|access-date=January 21, 2019|website=CNN}}</ref><ref name="NYT_Mervosh_20190119">{{Cite news|last=Mervosh|first=Sarah|date=January 19, 2019|title=Boys in 'Make America Great Again' Hats Mob Native Elder at Indigenous Peoples March|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/19/us/covington-catholic-high-school-nathan-phillips.html|access-date=January 19, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|last=Grinberg|first=Emanuella|date=January 22, 2019|title=In four days, three viral videos showed us there's always more to the story|website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/22/us/viral-video-kentucky-students-toddler-hands-up/index.html|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> As more Covington students arrived, and in response to these taunts, the students performed [[school spirit]] sports chants, including their version of a [[Māori culture|Māori]] [[haka]].<ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/><ref name="AP_Karoub_20190121">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/90c35b0e3b1f41abbcb28eef7cf4bd9a|title=Teen in confrontation with Native American: I didn't provoke |last1=Karoub|first1=Jeff|date=January 21, 2019|work=Associated Press|access-date=January 21, 2019|last2=Beam|first2=Adam}}</ref>{{efn|A haka is a type of traditional ceremonial dance or challenge in [[Māori culture]]. They have been adopted in popular culture, often [[Haka in sports|in sports]].}} One of the Native Americans who was there for the march said that he felt "the students were mocking the dance".<ref name="AP_Karoub_20190121"/> |
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As more Covington students arrived, and in response to these taunts, the students performed [[school spirit]] sports chants, including their version of a [[Māori culture|Māori]] [[haka]].<ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/><ref name="AP_Karoub_20190121">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/90c35b0e3b1f41abbcb28eef7cf4bd9a|title=Teen in confrontation with Native American: I didn't provoke |last1=Karoub|first1=Jeff|date=January 21, 2019|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 21, 2019|last2=Beam|first2=Adam}}</ref><ref group="Notes">A haka is a type of traditional ceremonial dance or challenge in [[Māori culture]]. They have been [[Haka in popular culture|adopted in popular culture]], often in sports.</ref><ref group="Notes">One of the Native Americans who was there for the March said that he felt [https://apnews.com/90c35b0e3b1f41abbcb28eef7cf4bd9a "the students were mocking the dance."]</ref> |
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According to a January 23 ''New York |
According to a January 23 ''New York Times'' article,<ref name="NYT_20190123"/> Indigenous Peoples March participants said they had interpreted the "loud chanting" and the size of the group, as well as their [[Make America Great Again|MAGA]] apparel, as "aggressive and disruptive to their demonstration"<ref name="NYT_20190123"/> which had just concluded. [[Nathan Phillips (activist)|Nathan Phillips]], a member of the Omaha tribe who had participated in the March, listened to the chants for what he said was about ten minutes. He said he thought that there was a confrontation between the students and the street preachers that he believed had reached a "boiling point". In his early press interviews, Phillips accused the Covington students of hate and racism.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/cnn/2019/01/21/us/nathan-phillips-maga-teens-interview/index.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> He later said that he had intended to defuse what he perceived as escalating tension between the students and the preachers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="standard_Tobin_20190120">{{cite web |first=Olivia |last=Tobin| title = Covington Catholic High School: Outrage as teens in MAGA hats 'mock' Native American Vietnam War veteran |work= [[London Evening Standard]]| access-date = January 21, 2019 |date=January 20, 2019| url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/outrage-as-teens-in-maga-hats-mock-native-american-demonstrator-a4044006.html}}</ref> According to the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'', Phillips said, "They were in the process of attacking these four black individuals.... These young men were beastly and these old black individuals was (sic) their prey, and I stood in between them and so they needed their pounds of flesh and they were looking at me for that."<ref name="Slate" /> According to [[CNN]]'s [[Sara Sidner]], two minutes after one of the students took off his shirt to lead the haka, the "drum beat of Phillips and another Native American drummer [was audible] in the video". They sang the [[AIM Song]], a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] intertribal song.<ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/><ref name=":0" /><ref name="indiancountrytoday_Schilling_20190119">{{cite web|url=https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/news/outrage-as-non-native-youth-wearing-maga-hats-taunt-and-disrespect-native-elder-jy7UVwdg8kK2uvT0L-JOig/|title=Outrage as non-Native youth wearing #MAGA hats taunt and disrespect Native elder|last=Schilling|first=Vincent|date=January 19, 2019|work=[[Indian Country Today]]|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> |
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Phillips and a second Native American, both with ceremonial drums, walked towards the students grouped along the stairs. Sidner said that while some of the students danced to Phillips' drum beat and chanted along with him for |
Phillips and a second Native American, both with ceremonial drums, walked towards the students grouped along the stairs. Sidner said that while some of the students danced to Phillips' drum beat and chanted along with him for a while, they were not "enjoying each other's company".<ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/> Soon, Phillips was "encircled" by about 30 students, "many of them white and wearing apparel bearing the slogan of President Trump", red baseball hats with the phrase "[[Make America Great Again]]" (MAGA).<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/><ref name="Nelson_20190120" /> Phillips continued to beat his ceremonial drum and sing for nearly two minutes as a boy wearing the red MAGA hat chose not to retreat with what some interpreted as a smirk on his face.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/><ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="CNN_Grinberg_20190121">{{cite news| first = Emanuella |last=Grinberg |work=CNN|access-date=January 21, 2019 |date=January 21, 2019| url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/us/maga-hat-teens-native-american-second-video/index.html |title=A new video shows a different side of the encounter between a Native American elder and teens in MAGA hats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-video-details-emerge-of-kentucky-high-school-students-viral-encounter-in-dc|title=New Video, Details Emerge of Kentucky Students' Encounter in D.C.|last=Albert|first=Victoria|date=January 21, 2019|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> The student later explained that he smiled because he wanted Phillips to know "that I was not going to become angry, intimidated or be provoked into a larger confrontation."<ref name="autogenerated1" /> |
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===Black Hebrew Israelites=== |
===Black Hebrew Israelites=== |
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⚫ | Earlier footage{{clarify|earlier than what?|date=July 2020}} that was released did not include the presence of a group of five [[Black Hebrew Israelites]] on the Plaza near the Reflecting Pond, part of a [[One West Camp]] offshoot believing in the [[Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ#The 12 tribes of Israel (Black Hebrew Israelite)|"12 tribes" doctrine]]. They stood in a row "shouting scripture from red books" and taunting passers-by.<ref name="NYT_20190123"/><ref name="davis1"/><ref name="bengal1"/><ref name="lockhart1"/> According to [[CNN]]'s [[Sara Sidner]] they were "taunting ... people of all colors, other black visitors, natives, and a Catholic priest" shortly after the end of the Indigenous Peoples March, and before the students arrived on the scene.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/22/us/viral-video-kentucky-students-toddler-hands-up/index.html|title=In four days, three viral videos showed us there's always more to the story|last=Grinberg|first=Emanuella|date=January 22, 2019|website=CNN|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1901/20/cnr.03.html|title=Trump Proposes DACA Deal for His Border Wall Funding; Furloughed Worker Shares Impacts of Historic Shutdown; Rudy Giuliani Admits Trump and Cohen May Have Discussed Testimony; Immigration Laws; Oscars; CNN Heroes; Politics; Italy Elections; Second Amendment Rights; Reality TV; Entertainment|last=Sidner|first=Sara|date=January 21, 2019|website=CNN|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="crossroadstoday_20190121">{{cite web|url=https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/national-news/new-video-emerges-in-lincoln-memorial-encounter/984146697|title=New video emerges in Lincoln Memorial encounter|date=January 21, 2019|work=Crossroads Today|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044430/https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/national-news/new-video-emerges-in-lincoln-memorial-encounter/984146697|archive-date=January 22, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> As the students began to arrive to wait for their bus, the Black Hebrew Israelites began to shout insults directly at them.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/><ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/><ref name="NYT_Mervosh_20190119"/> |
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{{main|Black Hebrew Israelites}} |
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⚫ | According to witnesses and video subsequently appearing on social media, the Black Hebrew Israelite men shouted racist slurs at the high school students as well as Native Americans.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="CNN_Grinberg_20190121"/> They called the students "a bunch of incest babies", future "[[school shooter]]s", and "dirty ass little [[Cracker (term)|cracker]]s", and said "you give [[Faggot (slang)|faggot]]s rights".<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|title=Viral standoff between a tribal elder and a high schooler is more complicated than it first seemed|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|date=January 22, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0261-3077| last = Bekiempis| first = Victoria| title = New video sheds more light on students' confrontation with Native American| work = The Guardian|date=January 21, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2019| url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/21/new-video-confrontation-kentucky-students-native-american}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-21/native-american-surrounded-maga-trump-supporters-what-happened/10730988|title=Here's the missing context behind the video of students surrounding a Native American drummer|date=January 21, 2019|website=ABC News|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> Many students reacted by saying things such as "whoa" and "easy".<ref name=autogenerated3 /> The Hebrew Israelites also called a passing black man who tried to disagree with them a "[[List of ethnic slurs#C|coon]]", told indigenous activists that the word Indian means "savage", and said to a woman who had stopped to argue with them: "Where's your husband? Bring your husband. Let me speak to him."<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|date=January 22, 2019|title=Viral standoff between a tribal elder and a high schooler is more complicated than it first seemed|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|access-date=January 23, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Letters: 'We All Need to Take Responsibility for Their Actions'| work = The Atlantic| url = https://www.theatlantic.com/letters/archive/2019/01/readers-respond-covington-catholic-and-nathan-phillips/581170/ |date=January 25, 2019| access-date = January 28, 2019}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Earlier footage that was released did not include the presence of a group of five [[Black Hebrew Israelites]] on the Plaza near the Reflecting Pond, part of a [[One West Camp]] offshoot believing in the [[Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ#The 12 tribes of Israel (Black Hebrew Israelite)|"12 tribes" doctrine]]. They stood in a row "shouting scripture from red books" and taunting passers-by.<ref name="NYT_20190123"/><ref name="davis1"/><ref name="bengal1"/><ref name="lockhart1"/> According to [[CNN]]'s [[Sara Sidner]] they were "taunting ... people of all colors, other black visitors, natives, and a Catholic priest" shortly after the end of the Indigenous Peoples March, and before the students arrived on the scene.<ref |
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⚫ | According to witnesses and video subsequently appearing on social media, the Hebrew Israelite men shouted |
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== Response == |
== Response == |
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News media started covering the story on the evening of January 18, 2019, in response to the viral spread of initial videos posted to social media. Within days of their first coverage of the incident, many news media outlets had revisited their reports and revised the narrative, as more information became available |
News media started covering the story on the evening of January 18, 2019, in response to the viral spread of initial videos posted to social media. Within days of their first coverage of the incident, many news media outlets had revisited their reports and revised the narrative, as more information became available. This included longer videos which contextualized the incident, in-depth analyses and statements from spokesmen for the participants directly involved.<ref name="vox media 190122"/> The media were sharply criticized for basing their initial reporting on social media, particularly the user-generated short videos, that did not include the minutes before and after the incident.<ref name="vox media 190122"/> These new sources, which included interviews with participants, revealed the chronology of events, showing how the students had become agitated by the taunts of the Hebrew Israelites before Phillips came on the scene.<ref name="CNN_Sidner_20190121"/> |
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Participants at the Indigenous Peoples March posted the first videos of the incident in the evening of Friday, January 18, 2019, following the events. These first videos were roughly only a minute long, when Phillips was drumming, closely encircled by a large group of |
Participants at the Indigenous Peoples March posted the first videos of the incident in the evening of Friday, January 18, 2019, following the events. These first videos were roughly only a minute long, when Phillips was drumming, closely encircled by a large group of interested students. They did not include the minutes before and after that contextualized the incident. As described by ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'', the short videos gave the impression "that the boys were harassing the Native American elder".<ref name="vox media 190122">{{cite web | url = https://www.vox.com/2019/1/22/18192908/covington-catholic-video-nick-sandmann-maga | title = How the story of a clash between a boy in a MAGA hat and a Native American elder unfolded | first = Emily | last =Stewart | date = January 22, 2019 | access-date = January 22, 2019 | work = [[Vox (website)|Vox]] }}</ref> One of these was a one-minute clip posted by [[Guam]] resident Kaya Taitano, a student at the [[University of the District of Columbia]], who was with the small group of other participants at the Memorial late afternoon when the incident took place. She filmed the moment that CNN later described as "a smiling young man in a red Make America Great Again hat standing directly in front of the man, who was playing a drum and chanting. Other kids could be seen laughing, jumping around and seemingly making fun of the chants."<ref>David Williams and Emanuella Grinberg, [https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/19/us/teens-mock-native-elder-trnd/index.html 'Teen in confrontation with Native American elder says he was trying to defuse the situation'], ''CNN'' January 19, 2019, updated January 23, 2019.</ref> Taitano uploaded it to Instagram at 7:33 pm,<ref name="CNN_Murphy_20190123">{{Cite news| title = How the video confrontation between Catholic students and a Native American elder blew up |first1=Paul P. |last1=Murphy |first2=Gianluca |last2=Mezzofiore|work= CNN| access-date = January 23, 2019 |date=January 23, 2019| url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/22/us/lincoln-memorial-rally-video-viral-trnd/index.html}}</ref><ref name="Brookbank_20190121" /> and her video was later reposted that day to Twitter via user "2020fight" under the title "This MAGA loser gleefully bothering a Native American protester at the Indigenous Peoples March"; it received over 2.5 million views by January 21.<ref name="CNN_Murphy_20190123"/><ref name="NBC_Zadrozny_20190124"/> The second video, posted to YouTube by KC Noland, reached two million viewers in two hours Saturday morning, January 19, and over four and a half million by January 24.<ref name="thehill_20190119" /><ref name="cincinnati_Londberg_20190119">{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/19/video-shows-apparent-incident-indigenous-peoples-march/2623820002/|title=School faces backlash after incident at Indigenous Peoples March|last=Londberg|first=Max|date=January 19, 2019|work=Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="wcpo_20190119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/national/local-high-school-gaining-national-attention-for-incident-at-indigenous-peoples-march|title=Local high school 'looking into' incident at march in D.C.|last=McAuliffe|first=Zach|date=January 19, 2019|work=WCPO|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Noland_YouTube_20190118">{{Cite AV media |time=3:44 minutes| title = Indigenous Peoples March Washington, D.C. |via=YouTube |first=KC |last=Noland|date=January 18, 2019|access-date=January 21, 2019| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIG5ZB0fw1k}}</ref> |
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The first social media video clips were short and focused on this moment, leading to initial harsh criticism of the high school students, who some described as mocking and harassing the elder. Some people affiliated with the March described the boys as appearing threatening due to their numbers, actions, and the "[[Make America Great Again]]" caps and clothing that some wore.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture" |
The first social media video clips were short and focused on this moment, leading to initial harsh criticism of the high school students, who some described as mocking and harassing the elder. Some people affiliated with the March described the boys as appearing threatening due to their numbers, actions, and the "[[Make America Great Again]]" caps and clothing that some wore.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/> By January 20, longer videos had been uploaded. Phillips clarified that it was he who had approached the crowd of students, in what he said was an attempt to defuse what Phillips perceived to be a brewing conflict between the students and a third group of five men who were identified as Black Hebrew Israelites who had been taunting the white students with homophobic slurs.<ref name="Slate">{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/01/nathan-phillips-says-he-approached-maga-clad-teens-to-defuse-argument-with-black-protesters.html|title=Native American Elder Says He Approached MAGA-Clad Teens to Defuse Argument With Black Protesters|last=Politi|first=Daniel|date=January 20, 2019|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> |
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Strong reactions to the event prompted an immediate backlash against the school, the students, and their chaperones. |
Strong reactions to the event prompted an immediate backlash against the school, the students, and their chaperones. ''[[The Washington Post]]'' described the incident as a "tense encounter" that "prompted outrage".<ref name="WaPo_20190119">{{cite news| title = 'It was getting ugly': Native American drummer on the MAGA-hat wearing teens who surrounded him |newspaper= The Washington Post|date=January 19, 2019| access-date = January 19, 2019| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/it-was-getting-ugly-native-american-drummer-on-the-maga-hat-wearing-teens-who-surrounded-him/2019/01/19/41678d84-1c1b-11e9-8813-cb9dec761e73_story.html | last1 = Olivo |first1=Antonio |first2=Cleve R. |last2=Wootson Jr |first3= Joe |last3=Heim}}</ref> One of the featured speakers at the Indigenous Peoples March, [[Ruth Buffalo]], a [[North Dakota House of Representatives|North Dakota Representative]] and member of the [[Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation]],<ref name="nativenewsonline">{{Cite news |title=Photographs of Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. |work=Native News Online |editor-first=Levi |editor-last=Rickert |date=January 19, 2019 |access-date=January 21, 2019 |url=https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/photographs-of-indigenous-peoples-march-in-washington-d-c/ |first1=Mark |last1=Charles |first2=Darren |last2=Thompson |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529135414/https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/photographs-of-indigenous-peoples-march-in-washington-d-c/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NYT_20181113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/us/politics/north-dakota-ruth-buffalo.html|title=Meet the Native American Woman Who Beat the Sponsor of North Dakota's ID Law|author=Astor, Maggie|periodical=New York Times|date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Spence|first=William L.|title=Governor candidate may still resign her legislative seat|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/election/article200044799.html|newspaper=[[Idaho Statesman]]|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2018|language=en}}</ref> said the students' disrespect of what was meant to have been a "celebration of all cultures" saddened her. She added, "The behaviour shown in that video is just a snapshot of what Indigenous people have faced and are continuing to face."<ref name="CBC_20190119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/indigenous-march-student-mock-1.4985493|title=U.S. diocese investigating after students mock Indigenous demonstrator|date=January 18, 2019|work=CBC News|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> Buffalo suggested "some kind of meeting with the students to provide education on issues facing Native Americans."<ref name="CBC_20190119" /> House Representative [[Deb Haaland]] wrote, "The students' display of blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance is a signal of how common decency has decayed under this administration. Heartbreaking."<ref name="thehill_20190119">{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/426160-haaland-condemns-students-behavior-toward-native-elder-at|title=Haaland condemns students' behavior toward Native elder at Indigenous Peoples March|last=Gstalter|first=Morgan|date=January 18, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> Actress [[Alyssa Milano]] wrote: “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”.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Caitlin Flanagan |title=The Media Botched the Covington Catholic Story |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/media-must-learn-covington-catholic-story/581035/ |access-date=April 8, 2019 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=January 23, 2019 |language=en |quote=dramatic professions of personal anguish meant to recenter the locus of harm from Phillips to the tweeter (“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”: Alyssa Milano)}}</ref> |
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Over the next several days statements from a spokesperson for the March, an attorney for the [[Lakota People]]'s Law Project, from Nicholas Sandmann, and other officials, offered different perspectives on the incident. In the wake of the widespread sharing of more detailed video clips, media analyses of the videos, and statements, public opinion became polarized, with some saying the students were completely absolved of all wrongdoing and others saying the students were disrespectful of a Native American elder on a day that should have been a celebration of the first Indigenous Peoples March.<ref name="Native_Students">{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Art |title=Wednesday, January 23, 2019 – Face-to-face with disrespect |url=http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/wednesday-january-23-2019-face-to-face-with-disrespect/ |website=Native America Calling | |
Over the next several days statements from a spokesperson for the March, an attorney for the [[Lakota People]]'s Law Project, from Nicholas Sandmann, and other officials, offered different perspectives on the incident. In the wake of the widespread sharing of more detailed video clips, media analyses of the videos, and statements, public opinion became polarized, with some saying the students were completely absolved of all wrongdoing and others saying the students were disrespectful of a Native American elder on a day that should have been a celebration of the first Indigenous Peoples March.<ref name="Native_Students">{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Art |title=Wednesday, January 23, 2019 – Face-to-face with disrespect |url=http://www.nativeamericacalling.com/wednesday-january-23-2019-face-to-face-with-disrespect/ |website=Native America Calling |access-date=March 11, 2019 |date=January 23, 2019}}</ref><ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/> |
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=== Further coverage === |
=== Further coverage === |
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[[File:2019-01-18 Phillips Sandmann.jpg|thumb|Still of a second video]] |
[[File:2019-01-18 Phillips Sandmann.jpg|thumb|Still of a second video]] |
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Shortly after the event took place, the Covington Catholic communications director released a statement expressing regret that the event had happened.<ref name="cincinnati_Londberg_20190119" /> In a joint statement on January 19, the Diocese of Covington and the Covington Catholic High School extended apologies to Phillips, condemned the students' behavior, and said that after they reviewed the situation they would "take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion."<ref name="USA_Today_20190119">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/19/kentucky-diocese-incident-indigenous-peoples-march-covington-catholic-high-school/2624503002/|title='Blatant racism': Ky. high school faces backlash after video shows students surrounding indigenous marchers|last=Londberg|first=Max|date=January 18, 2019|work=USA Today|access-date=January 19, 2019|quote="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. 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."}}</ref> |
Shortly after the event took place, the Covington Catholic communications director released a statement expressing regret that the event had happened.<ref name="cincinnati_Londberg_20190119" /> In a joint statement on January 19, the Diocese of Covington and the Covington Catholic High School extended apologies to Phillips, condemned the students' behavior, and said that after they reviewed the situation they would "take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion."<ref name="USA_Today_20190119">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/19/kentucky-diocese-incident-indigenous-peoples-march-covington-catholic-high-school/2624503002/|title='Blatant racism': Ky. high school faces backlash after video shows students surrounding indigenous marchers|last=Londberg|first=Max|date=January 18, 2019|work=USA Today|access-date=January 19, 2019|quote="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. 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."}}</ref> |
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However, in a |
However, in a following letter dated January 25, 2019, the bishop of the Covington Diocese apologized to Sandmann, saying they "should not have allowed ourselves to be bullied and pressured into making a statement prematurely".<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bishop-apologizes-teen-who-faced-native-american-n963056 Bishop apologizes to teen who faced off with Native American], NBC News, January 26, 2018</ref> |
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According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', death threats had been reported by some of the Covington students' families and the school was closed for a day due to threats of violence."<ref name="NYT_20190123"/> |
According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', death threats had been reported by some of the Covington students' families and the school was closed for a day due to threats of violence."<ref name="NYT_20190123"/> |
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On January 20, ''The New York Times'' described the encounter as an "explosive convergence of race, religion and ideological beliefs—against a national backdrop of political tension... [It] became the latest touch point for racial and political tensions in America, with diverging views about what really had happened."<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture" |
On January 20, ''The New York Times'' described the encounter as an "explosive convergence of race, religion and ideological beliefs—against a national backdrop of political tension... [It] became the latest touch point for racial and political tensions in America, with diverging views about what really had happened."<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/> A [[vox.com|Vox]] editorial called it the "nation's biggest story" and "American politics in [[Macrocosm and microcosm|microcosm]]" based on the competing interpretations, "[[identity politics|identity-focused politics]]," and intractable back and forth between left-leaning and right-leaning media organizations "despite the inherent uncertainty in the footage itself."<ref name="Vox_Beauchamp_20190123"/> |
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As the backlash intensified, the parents of Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, the one CNN described as "smiling young man in a red Make America Great Again hat," retained the services of Louisville-based RunSwitch Public Relations, a company that specializes in [[crisis management]].<ref |
As the backlash intensified, the parents of Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, the one CNN described as "smiling young man in a red Make America Great Again hat," retained the services of Louisville-based RunSwitch Public Relations, a company that specializes in [[crisis management]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=STOREY|first=KATE|title=Behind the PR Machine That Helped Change the Nick Sandmann Narrative|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a26031489/runswitch-pr-scott-jennings-nick-sandmann/|newspaper= townandcountrymag |date=2019-01-25|access-date=2021-11-24|language=en}}</ref> They released a January 21 statement on behalf of Sandmann, in which he said misinformation and "outright lies" were being spread about the incident.<ref name="BBC_20190121" /> According to him, the situation began when a group of African-American protesters directed insults at the students, and the students responded with school spirit chants. Sandmann said that he was confused when Phillips and other Native Americans subsequently approached him and the other students, and that he tried to remain calm to avoid trouble. He said he "did not witness or hear any students chant 'build that wall' or anything hateful or racist at any time."<ref name=":0">{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Johnson |date=January 21, 2019|access-date=January 21, 2019 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/young-man-d-c-march-video-denounces-outright-lies-about-n960801 |title=Young man in D.C. march video denounces 'outright lies' about him |work=NBC News}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name="CNN_Sandmann_20190121">{{cite news| title = Statement of Nick Sandmann, Covington Catholic High School junior, regarding incident at the Lincoln Memorial |work=CNN| url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/20/us/covington-kentucky-student-statement/index.html | access-date = January 21, 2019 |date=January 20, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190308045918/https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/20/us/covington-kentucky-student-statement/index.html |archive-date= March 8, 2019}}</ref> |
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Taitano said she also heard the students chant [[Build the Wall|"build that wall"]] and "Trump 2020", but such chants were not audible in videos reviewed by CNN.<ref name="CNN_Grinberg_20190121" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|title=A tribal elder and a high school junior stood face to face, and the world reacted|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|date=January 21, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Mashable_Gallucci_20190118" /> The January 21 PR statement denied that the students chanted "Build the wall".<ref name=":0" /><ref name="courier-journal_Schneider_20190121">{{Cite news |first=Grace |last=Schneider |location=Louisville | title = Louisville PR firm played a key role in Covington Catholic controversy| work = The Courier-Journal| access-date = January 22, 2019 |date=January 21, 2019| url = https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2019/01/21/covington-catholic-runswitch-pr-helped-student-in-controversial-video/2638400002/}}</ref><ref name="BBC_20190121">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46943364|title=US teen denies mocking Native American |
Taitano said she also heard the students chant [[Build the Wall|"build that wall"]] and "Trump 2020", but such chants were not audible in videos reviewed by CNN.<ref name="CNN_Grinberg_20190121" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html|title=A tribal elder and a high school junior stood face to face, and the world reacted|last=Miller|first=Michael E.|date=January 21, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Mashable_Gallucci_20190118" /> The January 21 PR statement denied that the students chanted "Build the wall".<ref name=":0" /><ref name="courier-journal_Schneider_20190121">{{Cite news |first=Grace |last=Schneider |location=Louisville | title = Louisville PR firm played a key role in Covington Catholic controversy| work = The Courier-Journal| access-date = January 22, 2019 |date=January 21, 2019| url = https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2019/01/21/covington-catholic-runswitch-pr-helped-student-in-controversial-video/2638400002/}}</ref><ref name="BBC_20190121">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46943364|title=US teen denies mocking Native American|date=January 21, 2019|work=BBC News|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref name="CNN_Sandmann_20190121" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brookbank |first1=Sarah |title=Analysis: What the video from the incident at the Indigenous Peoples March tell us about what happened |url=https://eu.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/01/20/analyzing-video-incident-indigenous-peoples-march/2631412002/ |access-date=January 21, 2019 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> Phillips said that he had heard the students chanting "build that wall" which was one of the principal concerns of the Indigenous Peoples March.<ref name="nativenewsonline"/><ref name="thecut_Ryan_20190119">{{cite web| last = Ryan| first = Lisa| title = Mob of MAGA Hat-Wearing Teen Boys Caught on Video Harassing Native Elder| work = The Cut|date=January 18, 2019| access-date = January 19, 2019| url = https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/maga-teens-indigenous-peoples-march-harassment-video.html |quote=The Cut quoted an Instagram post, "As we tried to move through the crowd, they closed in tighter around us, and wouldn't allow anyone to pass. It was obvious that they wanted any excuse for the day to turn violent. They repeatedly 'bumped' into us, trying to agitate people into confrontation. But instead, the very few of us left stood quietly, trying to remain calm. I was seething with anger and rage and disappointment. I was so confused about why these boys would go out of their way to harass such a small, vulnerable group."}}</ref> In a brief interview on Twitter, he said "This is Indigenous Land you know, we're not supposed to have walls here. We never did for millenniums (sic) before anybody else came here we never had walls. We never had a prison. We always took care of our elders and took care of our children. We always provided for them, we taught them right from wrong. I wish I could see that energy in that young mass of young men down there. To put that energy into making this country really great—helping those that are hungry..."<ref name="Mashable_Gallucci_20190118">{{cite web| last = Gallucci| first = Nicole| title = Teens in MAGA hats sparked outrage after crashing the Indigenous Peoples March| work = Mashable|date=January 18, 2019| access-date = January 19, 2019| url = https://mashable.com/article/teen-boys-maga-hats-crash-indifenous-people-march/}}</ref> Some others affiliated with the March described the group of boys surrounding Phillips as appearing threatening due to their numbers, actions, and "Make America Great Again" attire.<ref name="NY Times Fuller Picture"/> |
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[[Alison Lundergan Grimes]], Secretary of State of Kentucky, described the scene as "horrific" and said the students' actions did not reflect Kentucky's values. She wrote, "I refuse to shame these children. Instead I turn to the adults that are teaching them and those that are silently letting others promote this behavior. This is not the Kentucky I know and love. We can do better and it starts with better leadership."<ref name="Time_Martinez_20190119">{{Cite magazine |first=Gina |last=Martinez | title = Kentucky Teens Wearing 'MAGA' Hats Taunt Indigenous Peoples March Participants in Viral Video| |
[[Alison Lundergan Grimes]], Secretary of State of Kentucky, described the scene as "horrific" and said the students' actions did not reflect Kentucky's values. She wrote, "I refuse to shame these children. Instead I turn to the adults that are teaching them and those that are silently letting others promote this behavior. This is not the Kentucky I know and love. We can do better and it starts with better leadership."<ref name="Time_Martinez_20190119">{{Cite magazine |first=Gina |last=Martinez | title = Kentucky Teens Wearing 'MAGA' Hats Taunt Indigenous Peoples March Participants in Viral Video| magazine = Time|date=January 19, 2019| access-date = January 19, 2019| url = https://time.com/5507911/kentucky-teens-maga-indigenous-peoples-march-viral-video/}}</ref> |
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''[[The Washington Post]]'' described the Indigenous Peoples March as "meaningful", and an example of how Native Americans will not be silenced.<ref name="WaPo_20190118">{{cite |
''[[The Washington Post]]'' described the Indigenous Peoples March as "meaningful", and an example of how Native Americans will not be silenced.<ref name="WaPo_20190118">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/we-will-not-be-silenced-a-meaningful-march-days-after-trump-joked-about-a-native-american-massacre/2019/01/18/f7d93bdc-1b79-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html|title=A meaningful march days after Trump joked about a Native American massacre|last=Vargas|first=Theresa|date=January 18, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> The article drew attention to [[President Donald Trump|Donald Trump]]'s joking about the [[Wounded Knee Massacre]] to mock the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Massachusetts]], [[Elizabeth Warren]].<ref name="NYT20190114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/politics/wounded-knee-trump-warren.html|title=Trump's Use of Wounded Knee to Mock Elizabeth Warren Angers Native Americans|last=Caron|first=Christina|date=January 14, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name="theatlantic_Beinart_201901">{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/elizabeth-warren-unpopular-it-depends-who-you-ask/579247/|title=There's a Reason Many Voters Have Negative Views of Warren – But the Press Won't Tell You Why|last=Beinart|first=Peter|date=January 2, 2019|work=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=January 3, 2019 | quote = The better explanation for why Warren attracts disproportionate conservative criticism, and has disproportionately high disapproval ratings, has nothing to do with her progressive economic views or her dalliance with DNA testing. It's that she's a woman.}}</ref> |
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[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] writer Erik Abriss, who tweeted that he wanted the Covington students and their parents to die, was fired from his second job at INE Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/vulture-writer-on-covington-students-i-just-want-these-people-to-die-simple-as-that/|title=Vulture Writer Who Wished Death on Covington Students Fired From Job at INE Entertainment|last=Levine|first=John|date=January 21, 2019|website=The Wrap|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> Film producer Jack Morrissey, who had suggested the "MAGAkids go screaming, hats first, into the woodchipper," later apologized for his "fast, profoundly stupid tweet".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/film-producer-jack-morrissey-apologizes-for-deleted-covington-woodchipper-tweet/|title=Film Producer Jack Morrissey Apologizes for Deleted Covington 'Woodchipper' Tweet| |
[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] writer Erik Abriss, who tweeted that he wanted the Covington students and their parents to die, was fired from his second job at INE Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/vulture-writer-on-covington-students-i-just-want-these-people-to-die-simple-as-that/|title=Vulture Writer Who Wished Death on Covington Students Fired From Job at INE Entertainment|last=Levine|first=John|date=January 21, 2019|website=The Wrap|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> Film producer [[Jack Morrissey (producer)|Jack Morrissey]], who had suggested the "MAGAkids go screaming, hats first, into the woodchipper," later apologized for his "fast, profoundly stupid tweet".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/film-producer-jack-morrissey-apologizes-for-deleted-covington-woodchipper-tweet/|title=Film Producer Jack Morrissey Apologizes for Deleted Covington 'Woodchipper' Tweet|last1=Hod|first1=Itay|last2=Levine|first2=Jon|date=January 21, 2019|website=The Wrap|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref> |
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Author and professor at [[UC Riverside]] [[Reza Aslan]] tweeted about Sandmann: "Have you ever seen a more punchable face than this kid’s?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/02/19/covington-catholic-outrage-spread-shady-facebook-and-twitter-posts/2667213002/|title=How a few shady social media posts fed a viral firestorm over Covington Catholic (and why it will happen again)|last1=Rossman|first1=Sean|last2=Wynn|first2=Matt|last3=Guynn|first3=Jessica|last4=Heath|first4=Brad|date=Feb 19, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US|access-date=2020-08-11}}</ref> The tweet was deleted roughly one year later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/covington-catholic-student-nick-sandmanns-lawyers-go-after-rival-attorney|title=Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann's Lawyers Go After Rival Attorney|last=Sommer|first=Will|date=Jan 10, 2020|website=The Daily Beast|language=en-US|access-date=2020-07-26}}</ref> |
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CNN analyst [[Bakari Sellers]] tweeted, "some [people] can also be punched in the face".<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/us/glenn-greenwald-calls-rush-to-judgment-about-kentucky-student-in-viral-confrontation-with-native-american-trial-by-twitter-mob Glenn Greenwald slams rush to judgment about Kentucky student in viral confrontation with Native American], Fox News, January 22, 2019</ref> |
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[[Wheeler Walker Jr.]], an [[alter-ego]] of comedian [[Ben Hoffman]], tweeted "If you know this little shit, punch him in the nuts and send me the video of it and I'll send you all my albums on vinyl, autographed."<ref>[https://popculture.com/country-music/2019/01/21/wheeler-walker-jr-under-fire-inciting-violence-against-kentucky-teen-viral-video/ Comedic Country Singer Wheeler Walker Jr. Under Fire for Inciting Violence Against Kentucky Teen in Viral Video], popculture.com, January 21, 2019</ref> |
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=== Following full video release === |
=== Following full video release === |
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A longer hour-and-a-half-long video was made public on Sunday, January 20.<ref name="Réactionnaire_YouTube_20190120">{{Cite AV media|publisher = Réactionnaire Médiatique |title = Full 1h30 Video: |
A longer hour-and-a-half-long video was made public on Sunday, January 20.<ref name="Réactionnaire_YouTube_20190120">{{Cite AV media|publisher = Réactionnaire Médiatique |title = Full 1h30 Video: Covington Catholic Students MAGA Hat kids vs Nathan Phillips|date=January 20, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019| time = 6379 seconds (1 hr 46 minutes)| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-pFMZaw5f0&t=504s}}</ref> The longer video revealed more information about the incident, including the five Hebrew Israelites and their taunting of the students. ''The New York Times'' January 22 compilation shows that the whole interaction only lasted ten minutes.<ref name="NYT_20190123">{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| title = Videos Show a Collision of 3 Groups That Spawned a Fiery Political Moment| work = The New York Times| access-date = January 28, 2019| date = January 23, 2019| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/22/us/covington-catholic-washington-videos.html}}</ref> |
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In the wake of the publication of the longer video, ''[[CNN Business]]'' reporter Donie O'Sullivan |
In the wake of the publication of the longer video, ''[[CNN Business]]'' reporter [[Donie O'Sullivan (journalist)|Donie O'Sullivan]] described the twitter video uploaded by "2020fight" as the one that "helped frame the news cycle" of the previous days, and characterized the video as a "deliberate attempt" to mislead and "manipulate the public conversation on Twitter"—a violation of Twitter rules.<ref name="CNN_O'Sullivan_20190122"/> According to Molly McKew, an [[information warfare]] researcher, the tweet had been boosted by a network of anonymous Twitter accounts to amplify the story.<ref name="CNN_O'Sullivan_20190122">{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/21/tech/twitter-suspends-account-native-american-maga-teens/index.html|title=Twitter suspends account that helped ignite controversy over viral encounter|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Donie|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2019|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="CNN_Murphy_20190123"/><ref name="NBC_Zadrozny_20190124">{{Cite news| title = Twitter account that amplified Covington Catholic D.C. march video appears linked to California teacher| work = NBC News|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/twitter-account-amplified-covington-catholic-d-c-march-video-appears-n961981 |first=Brandy |last=Zadrozny |author-link=Brandy Zadrozny}}</ref> |
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The newly |
The newly revealed information of the whole incident shown through the longer videos created confusion in the ongoing reporting: while some still believed the students were partially responsible for poor attitudes, others felt that the students had been maligned by the initial coverage and that several other actors in the event were to blame for the net result.<ref name="vox media 190122"/> |
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The organizers of the [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] initially released a statement criticizing the students' "reprehensible" behavior. But the organizers rescinded the statement on January 20, saying "It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1087179995414519810|user=March_for_Life|title=It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured. |
The organizers of the [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] initially released a statement criticizing the students' "reprehensible" behavior. But the organizers rescinded the statement on January 20, saying "It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured."<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1087179995414519810|user=March_for_Life|title=It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured. We will refrain from commenting further until the truth is understood. (2/2)|author=March for Life|date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> |
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[[Chase Iron Eyes]], a spokesperson for the March and an attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project who witnessed the incident, said that "Conservative people are fearful now—with the election to [C]ongress of our first two Native American women, [[Deb Haaland]] and [[Sharice Davids]], and so many other powerful women... But yesterday the world saw, whether it was live media or social media, the fight ahead of us can be won—if we are united."<ref name="Brookbank_20190121">{{Cite news| |
[[Chase Iron Eyes]], a spokesperson for the Indigenous Peoples March and an attorney for the [[Lakota People's Law Project]] who witnessed the incident, said that "Conservative people are fearful now—with the election to [C]ongress of our first two Native American women, [[Deb Haaland]] and [[Sharice Davids]], and so many other powerful women... But yesterday the world saw, whether it was live media or social media, the fight ahead of us can be won—if we are united."<ref name="Brookbank_20190121">{{Cite news |title=Video shot by Guam resident at Indigenous Peoples March: What we know |date=January 21, 2019 |access-date=January 21, 2019 |url=https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2019/01/22/video-shot-guam-resident-indigenous-peoples-march-what-we-know/2640428002/ |last1=Brookbank |first1=Sarah |first2=Max |last2=Londberg |work=Pacific Daily News via Cincinnati Enquirer }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Nelson_20190120">{{cite web| series = Press Statements |title=Marchers for Life Harass Indigenous Elder at Indigenous Peoples March|access-date=January 21, 2019 |date=January 20, 2019| url = https://static1.squarespace.com/enwiki/static/5bfdc0b7f8370a8e793b00a0/t/5c4399decd83663a094c881e/1547934176065/Press+-+Indigenous+Peoples+Movement+-+1%3A19%3A19.pdf |work=Lakota People's Law Project |first=Daniel Paul |last=Nelson}}</ref> Another march organizer, Nathalie Farfan, said, "The good news is, that connection to the sacred may have resonated with some of the Catholic youths. What is not being shown on [the KC Noland February 18 video <!--January 18?-->] is that the same youth and a few others became emotional because of the power, resilience and love we inherently carry in our DNA. Our day on those steps ended with a round dance, while we chanted, 'We are still here.{{'"}}<ref name="Nelson_20190120"/> |
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On January 21, ''The New York Times'' report from Covington said that the local community had focused its energy on "absolving the students of any wrongdoing" in the incident, having begun "to see itself as facing a politically motivated siege".<ref name="NYT_Dias_20190121">{{Cite news |first= Elizabeth |last=Dias| title = After Viral Video, Families of Covington Are Swiftly Circling to Protect Their Boys |work= The New York Times|access-date=January 22, 2019 |date= January 21, 2019| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/us/viral-video-covington-kentucky.html |location=Covington, Kentucky }}</ref> |
On January 21, ''The New York Times'' report from Covington said that the local community had focused its energy on "absolving the students of any wrongdoing" in the incident, having begun "to see itself as facing a politically motivated siege".<ref name="NYT_Dias_20190121">{{Cite news |first= Elizabeth |last=Dias| title = After Viral Video, Families of Covington Are Swiftly Circling to Protect Their Boys |work= The New York Times|access-date=January 22, 2019 |date= January 21, 2019| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/us/viral-video-covington-kentucky.html |location=Covington, Kentucky }}</ref> |
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[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Thomas Massie]], [[Kentucky's 4th congressional district|whose district]] includes Covington Catholic High School, wrote that after watching videos from four different cameras he believed the media had misrepresented the incident, and that "In the context of everything that was going on (which the media hasn't shown) the parents and mentors of these boys should be proud, not ashamed, of their kids' behavior."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/426264-massie-claims-media-misrepresented-covington-catholic-incident|title=Massie claims media misrepresented Covington Catholic incident]|last=Birnbaum|first=Emily|date=January 20, 2019|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> |
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The [[House Intelligence Committee]] on January 22 asked [[Twitter]] to provide information on the reason why the first video went viral.<ref>Kate Conger and Sheera Frenkel, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/technology/covington-video-protester-congress.html 'Who Posted Viral Video of Covington Students and Protester? Congress Wants to Know'], ''[[The New York Times]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref> |
The [[House Intelligence Committee]] on January 22 asked [[Twitter]] to provide information on the reason why the first video went viral.<ref>Kate Conger and Sheera Frenkel, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/technology/covington-video-protester-congress.html 'Who Posted Viral Video of Covington Students and Protester? Congress Wants to Know'], ''[[The New York Times]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref> |
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On January 22, shortly after tweeting it, [[Kathy Griffin]] deleted a Twitter message in which she accused Covington basketball players making |
On January 22, shortly after tweeting it, comedian [[Kathy Griffin]] deleted a Twitter message in which she accused Covington basketball players making an [[OK gesture]] of "throwing up the new nazi sign".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/22/kathy-griffin-deletes-nazi-sign-smear-from-stream-/|title=Kathy Griffin deletes 'Nazi sign' smear from stream of Covington Catholic tweets|last=Ernst|first=Douglas|date=January 22, 2019|website=The Washington Times|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> The same day [[Jim Carrey]] tweeted an art work labeling the Covington students as "baby snakes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/01/22/jim-carrey-labels-covington-catholic-students-as-baby-snakes-in-new-artwork/23650004/|title=Jim Carrey labels Covington students as 'baby snakes'|last=Kline|first=Jennifer|date=January 22, 2019|website=AOL|access-date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> |
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⚫ | |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124164511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/22/trump-slams-media-over-portrayal-confrontation-between-catholic-students-tribal-elder/ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/22/trump-slams-media-over-portrayal-confrontation-between-catholic-students-tribal-elder|title='Trump slams media over portrayal of confrontation between Catholic students and tribal elder | |
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In a January 22 tweet, President Trump said the Covington students "have become symbols of [[Fake news|Fake News]] and how evil it can be."<ref name="WaPo_StanleyBecker_20190122">{{cite news |first1=Isaac |last1=Stanley-Becker |first2=Kristine |last2=Phillips |
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⚫ | After several conflicting media interviews were given by Nathan Phillips, [[NBC]]'s Savannah Guthrie interviewed Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, airing on the Today Show on the morning of January 23. While Sandmann did not feel a need to apologize for his actions, he expressed respect for Phillips and a desire to talk to him. In hindsight, he wished that he had simply walked away.<ref>Janelle Griffith, [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covington-catholic-student-d-c-march-video-says-he-wishes-n961486 'Covington Catholic student in D.C. march video says he wishes had 'avoided the whole thing'<nowiki>'</nowiki>], ''[[NBCNews.com]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ZhDGaQMS4 |title=Nick Sandmann Speaks Out On Viral Encounter With Nathan Phillips | |
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⚫ | |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124164511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/22/trump-slams-media-over-portrayal-confrontation-between-catholic-students-tribal-elder/ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/22/trump-slams-media-over-portrayal-confrontation-between-catholic-students-tribal-elder|title='Trump slams media over portrayal of confrontation between Catholic students and tribal elder |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 22, 2019 |access-date=January 28, 2019 |archive-date=January 24, 2019 |quote=In a January 22 tweet, President Trump said the Covington students "have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be."}}</ref> |
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⚫ | After several conflicting media interviews were given by Nathan Phillips, [[NBC]]'s [[Savannah Guthrie]] interviewed Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, airing on the ''Today Show'' on the morning of January 23. While Sandmann did not feel a need to apologize for his actions, he expressed respect for Phillips and a desire to talk to him. In hindsight, he wished that he had simply walked away.<ref>Janelle Griffith, [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/covington-catholic-student-d-c-march-video-says-he-wishes-n961486 'Covington Catholic student in D.C. march video says he wishes had 'avoided the whole thing'<nowiki>'</nowiki>], ''[[NBCNews.com]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ZhDGaQMS4 |title=Nick Sandmann Speaks Out On Viral Encounter With Nathan Phillips | To day |via=YouTube |date=January 23, 2019 |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> In his interview with NBC, Phillips said that while "Sandmann owes many people an apology", as he continues to believe the "students were 'mocking' Native Americans, and Sandmann 'was the leader of that{{'"}}, he forgives those involved.<ref name="NBC_Fieldstadt_20190124">{{cite web| title = Native American activist in D.C. standoff says he has 'forgiveness in my heart'| work = NBC News|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nathan-phillips-native-american-activist-d-c-standoff-forgives-catholic-n962131 |first=Elisha |last=Fieldstadt}}</ref> Phillips also acknowledged that both of them had received death threats since the incident.<ref name="NBC_Fieldstadt_20190124"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-9-qmN0Hmw |title=Native American Elder Nathan Phillips On Confrontation: 'I Forgive Him' | Today |via=YouTube |date=January 24, 2019 |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> Guthrie was criticized, alternately, for giving Sandmann a national platform and for asking Sandmann if he should apologize to Phillips.<ref>Joe Concha, [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/426568-nbcs-guthrie-slammed-by-left-right-over-interview-with-covington-student 'NBC's Guthrie slammed by left, right over interview with Covington student Sandmann'], ''The Hill'' January 23, 2019.</ref> |
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⚫ | On January 23, CNN's [[Kirsten Powers]] deleted her Twitter app after she was criticized and, in her own words, "harassed" on [[Twitter]] after stating a day prior that "watching all the videos (which I did) does not change the fundamental problem: the boys disrespecting an Indigenous elder."<ref>Joe Concha, [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/426685-cnns-powers-deletes-twitter-app-after-harassment-claim-over-covington 'CNN's Powers deletes Twitter app after harassment claim over Covington criticism'], ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref> The same day, [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] |
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⚫ | On January 23, CNN's [[Kirsten Powers]] deleted her Twitter app after she was criticized and, in her own words, "harassed" on [[Twitter]] after stating a day prior that "watching all the videos (which I did) does not change the fundamental problem: the boys disrespecting an Indigenous elder."<ref>Joe Concha, [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/426685-cnns-powers-deletes-twitter-app-after-harassment-claim-over-covington 'CNN's Powers deletes Twitter app after harassment claim over Covington criticism'], ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' January 23, 2019.</ref> The same day, [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] gave a statement saying, "the idea that anybody could take joy in the destruction of young kids is absolutely outrageous to me"; her remarks were criticized, with critics pointing to the Trump administration's [[Trump administration family separation policy|family separation policy]].<ref name="WaPo_Chiu_20190124">{{cite news |first=Allyson |last=Chiu |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/24/your-administration-tore-babies-their-parents-critics-slam-sarah-sanders-covington-comments |title='Your administration tore babies from their parents': Critics slam Sarah Sanders for Covington comments'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date= January 24, 2019 |access-date=January 28, 2019 }}</ref> |
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On January 24, ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]'' published an article by [[Michael Arceneaux]] in which he wrote that if Sandmann would have been black, "he would have been harmed if not flat out killed".<ref>Michael Arceneaux, [https://www.essence.com/news/covington-students-treatment-if-they-were-black/ 'We All Know How The Covington Students Would Be Treated If They Were Young Black Men'], ''Essence'' January 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Eddie Scarry, [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/if-nick-sandmann-were-black-his-life-would-be-a-lot-easier-right-now 'If Nick Sandmann were black, his life would be a lot easier right now'], ''[[Washington Examiner]]'' January 24, 2019.</ref> |
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== Analysis of media coverage == |
== Analysis of media coverage == |
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The news media has been criticized for how it covered the incident, specifically for their initial reporting of the story based on various social media posts without fully investigating what occurred and subsequently fueling controversy and outrage over the incident.<ref>Robby Soave, [https://reason.com/blog/2019/01/20/covington-catholic-nathan-phillips-video 'The Media Wildly Mischaracterized That Video of Covington Catholic Students Confronting a Native American Veteran'], ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' January 20, 2019.</ref |
The news media has been criticized for how it covered the incident, specifically for their initial reporting of the story based on various social media posts without fully investigating what occurred and subsequently fueling controversy and outrage over the incident.<ref name="vox media 190122" /><ref>Robby Soave, [https://reason.com/blog/2019/01/20/covington-catholic-nathan-phillips-video 'The Media Wildly Mischaracterized That Video of Covington Catholic Students Confronting a Native American Veteran'], ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]'' January 20, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/media-must-learn-covington-catholic-story/581035/ | title = The Media Botched the Covington Catholic Story | first= Caitlin | last = Flanagan | date = January 23, 2019 | access-date = January 24, 2019 | work = [[The Atlantic]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/twitter-mob-covington-catholic-students-controversy/ | title = Fear, Loathing, and the Twitter Insta-Mob | first= Heather | last= Wilhelm | date = January 24, 2019 | access-date = January 24, 2019 | work = [[National Review]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/426597-in-covington-students-controversy-media-forgets-to-get-it-first-but | title = In Covington students' controversy, media forgets to 'get it first — but first, get it right' | first= Joe | last = Concha | date = January 23, 2019 | access-date = January 24, 2019 | work = [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> |
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The media began to cover the story after it received a massive amount of attention on social media. At first, most media coverage neglected to provide key details to the story. Two days later, after a longer video was released, media outlets began to withdraw from their initial analysis and made edits clarifying the changes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2019/02/19/covington-catholic-outrage-spread-shady-facebook-and-twitter-posts/2667213002/|title=How a few shady social media posts fed a viral firestorm over Covington Catholic (and why it will happen again)|last1=Rossman|first1=Sean|last2=Guynn|first2=Jessica|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=October 24, 2019|last3=Heath|first3=Brad|last4=Wynn|first4=Matt}}</ref> For example, CNN titled an article "Teens in Make America Great Again hats taunted a Native American elder at the Lincoln Memorial"'','' but upon revision, the new headline read "Teen in confrontation with Native American elder says he was trying to defuse the situation". ''The New York Times''<nowiki/>'s original coverage was titled "Boys in 'Make America Great Again' Hats Mob Native Elder at Indigenous Peoples March" before following up the next day with "Fuller Picture Emerges of Viral Video of Native American Man and Catholic Students".<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/23/fuller-picture-how-major-media-outlets-handled-their-evolving-accounts-covington-story/?arc404=true|title='Fuller picture': How major media outlets handled their evolving accounts of the Covington story|last=Wemple|first=Erik|date=January 22, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> Some organizations did not change their original writings, but added a notice directing users to newer articles with a more complete account.<ref name="auto"/> |
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⚫ | On January 20, 2019, Nathan Phillips, along with "several dozen" others, attempted to enter the [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception]] during [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in an effort to disrupt it, but were prohibited from entering "due to the disruption it would have caused during the solemn Mass" and because "they did not intend to share in the celebration of Mass."<ref name="FOX News">{{cite web |last1=Casiano |first1=Louis |title=National Shrine confirms report that Native American activist allegedly tried to disrupt Mass |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/national-shrine-says-nathan-phillips-allegedly-tried-to-disrupt-mass |website=FOX News |publisher=FOX | |
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== Legal == |
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Outside of the basilica, Phillips, referred to by the protesters as "Uncle Nate", read a list of the "demands of the indigenous folks" to the entirety of the [[Catholic Church]]. He demanded "the Catholic Church hold themselves responsible for the hundred-plus years of genocide that our indigenous people have endured and still persist through" by providing "[[Reparations (transitional justice)|reparations]] of land" and that it "revoke the [[papal bull]]s related to the [[Discovery doctrine|doctrine of discovery]], which laid the foundation for [[Religious intolerance|religious prejudice]] and the dehumanization of indigenous peoples." He also demanded that the students be "reprimanded" by their school and the universities that they will attend. |
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=== Defamation lawsuits === |
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After Phillips spoke, another protester claimed that they "showed the Catholic Church how to respect prayer [and] how to respect ceremony." Saying that "it's not even their land and we still helped them respect and we still showed respect as indigenous peoples."<ref name="YouTube">{{cite web |title=Nathan Phillips Is At It Again! |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=V_JePgeYzVE |website=YouTube |publisher=Google |accessdate=30 March 2019 |language=en |date=23 January 2019}}</ref> |
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==== ''The Washington Post'' ==== |
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Sandmann's family retained lawyers who, in February 2019, filed a {{USD|250 million}} [[defamation]] lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="farhi190219">{{cite web |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=February 19, 2019 |title=The Washington Post sued by family of Covington Catholic teenager |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-washington-post-sued-by-family-of-covington-catholic-teenager/2019/02/19/aa252be4-349c-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html |access-date=February 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Longburg |first=Max |date=February 19, 2019 |title=Covington Catholic student's legal team files $250M suit against The Washington Post |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/19/covington-catholic-students-lawyer-suit-filed-against-washington-post/2921874002/ |access-date=February 19, 2019 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The suit accuses the ''Post'' of publishing seven "false and defamatory articles".<ref name="ka-electronics1">Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry (February 19, 2019), [http://www.ka-electronics.com/images/pdf/Sandmann_v_Washington_Post_Complaint.pdf Sandmann v. Washington Post complaint], United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, Northern Division at Covington</ref><ref>Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Antonio Olivo and Joe Heim (January 22, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/20/it-was-getting-ugly-native-american-drummer-speaks-maga-hat-wearing-teens-who-surrounded-him/ "'It was getting ugly': Native American drummer speaks on his encounter with MAGA-hat-wearing teens" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Jake Tapper (January 20, 2019), [http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-A.pdf "Statement of Nick Sandmann. Covington Catholic High School Junior, Regarding Incident at the Lincoln Memorial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101812/http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-A.pdf |date=March 27, 2019 }}, Twitter via Hemmerlaw.com</ref><ref>Antonio Olivo, Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Joe Heim (January 20, 2019), [http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-F.pdf "Marcher's accost by boys in MAGA caps draws ire"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220012041/http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-F.pdf |date=February 20, 2019 }}, ''The Washington Post'' via Hemmerlaw.com</ref><ref>Michelle Boorstein (January 20, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/01/20/opposed-dignity-human-person-kentucky-catholic-diocese-condemns-teens-who-taunted-vet-march-life/ "'Opposed to the dignity of the human person': Kentucky Catholic diocese condemns teens who taunted vet at March for Life" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Philip Bump (January 20, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/20/most-young-white-men-are-much-more-open-diversity-than-older-generations/ "Most young white men are much more open to diversity than older generations" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Michael E. Miller (January 22, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html "Viral standoff between a tribal elder and a high schooler is more complicated than it first seemed" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref> The complaint alleged that the ''Post'' wanted to lead a "mainstream and social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified, and threatened" Sandmann, that the ''Post'' wrongfully targeted and bullied Sandmann "because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' souvenir cap on a school field trip" and that the ''Post'' "knew and intended that its allegedly defamatory accusations would be republished by others."<ref name="ka-electronics1" /> A spokeswoman for ''The Washington Post'' announced that the paper would defend itself against the lawsuit.<ref name="farhi190219" /> |
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The lawsuit against ''The Washington Post'' was initially dismissed on July 26, 2019, because the plaintiff's claims that he was falsely accused of racist conduct "is not supported by the plain language in the article", and that otherwise the published material was opinion, protected by the First Amendment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=$250 million Sandmann lawsuit against Washington Post dismissed by federal judge |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2019/07/26/nick-sandmann-covington-catholic-lawsuit-against-washington-post-dismissed-federal-judge/1841901001/ |access-date=July 26, 2019 |website=The Courier-Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Sophie |date=July 27, 2019 |title=Covington student's $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post dismissed |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covington-students-250-million-defamation-lawsuit-against-the-washington-post-dismissed/ |access-date=July 27, 2019 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> After Sandmann's lawyers amended the complaint, the suit was reopened on October 28, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Re |first=Gregg |date=October 28, 2019 |title=Judge reopens Covington Catholic High student's defamation suit against Washington Post |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/nick-sandmann-covington-catholic-case-reopened |access-date=October 29, 2019 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> The judge stood by his earlier decision that 30 of the ''Post''{{'}}s 33 statements targeted by the complaint were not libelous, but agreed that a further review was required for three statements that "state that (Sandmann) 'blocked' Nathan Phillips and 'would not allow him to retreat'".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Cameron |date=October 28, 2019 |title=Judge to allow portion of Nick Sandmann lawsuit against Washington Post to continue |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/10/28/cov-cath-judge-rules-lawsuit-against-washington-post-can-continue/2489395001/ |access-date=October 29, 2019 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> On July 24, 2020, ''The Washington Post'' settled the lawsuit with Sandmann. The terms of the settlement have not been made public.<ref name=":7" /> |
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==== CNN ==== |
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Sandmann's lawyers filed a second lawsuit on his behalf against [[CNN]] on March 12, 2019, seeking {{USD|275 million}} in damages,<ref>{{cite web |last=Coffman |first=Keith |date=March 12, 2019 |title=CNN hit with $275 million defamation suit by Kentucky student |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nativeamerican/cnn-hit-with-275-million-defamation-suit-by-kentucky-student-idUSKBN1QU0BY |access-date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> for allegedly "vicious" and "direct attacks" towards Sandmann. On January 7, 2020, the lawsuit was settled. The terms of the settlement have not been made public.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moreno |first=J. Edward |date=January 7, 2020 |title=CNN settles lawsuit with Covington Catholic student: report |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/477203-cnn-settles-lawsuit-with-covington-catholic-student-report |access-date=January 7, 2020 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Cameron |date=January 7, 2020 |title=CNN confirms a settlement has been reached with Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/01/07/nick-sandmann-cnn-confirms-settlement-covington-catholic-student/2837478001/ |access-date=26 April 2021 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> |
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==== NBCUniversal ==== |
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A third lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2019, seeking US$275 million defamation lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against [[NBCUniversal]]. On November 22, 2019, a judge rejected NBC's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit against it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2019 |title=Federal Judge Rules Covington Student's $275M Libel Lawsuit against NBC May Proceed |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/federal-judge-rules-covington-students-275-million-libel-lawsuit-against-nbc-may-proceed/ |access-date=November 23, 2019 |website=National Review |language=en-US}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled on December 17, 2021, with Sandmann stating that the terms of the settlement were confidential.<ref name="CE" /> |
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====Other media lawsuits==== |
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Other lawsuits have been filed against ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and [[CBS]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Motions to dismiss denied in Sandmann suits against media companies |date=October 2, 2020 |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2020/10/01/motions-dismiss-denied-sandmann-suits-against-media-companies/}}</ref> On July 26, 2022, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman, a federal judge in Kentucky, granted summary judgment motions in favor of these media companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NYT, ABC Beat Defamation Claims Over Viral Video Coverage |url=https://www.law360.com/media/articles/1515433/nyt-abc-beat-defamation-claims-over-viral-video-coverage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Judge tosses Kentucky student's lawsuits over DC encounter |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/judge-tosses-kentucky-students-lawsuits-over-dc-encounter/2022/07/27/a997a7c4-0dc9-11ed-88e8-c58dc3dbaee2_story.html}}</ref> The court concluded that the reporting of Phillips’s statements that Sandmann “blocked” him and “wouldn’t allow [him] to retreat” were objectively unverifiable and thus unactionable opinions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY NORTHERN DIVISION OPINION AND ORDER |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.kyed.91669/gov.uscourts.kyed.91669.81.0.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Six |first=Taylor |date=2022-07-27 |title=Covington Catholic student's 5 libel lawsuits against national media outlets dismisse |work=Lexington Herald Leader |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article263868652.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729133459/https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article263868652.html |archive-date=2022-07-29}}</ref> The [[Sixth Circuit]] upheld the ruling on appeal in August 2023,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/lone-dissent-rips-appeals-court-for-refusing-to-revive-nick-sandmanns-libel-case-against-media-he-did-nothing-more-than-stand-still-and-smile/ | title = Lone dissent rips appeals court for refusing to revive Nick Sandmann's libel case against media: He 'did nothing more than stand still and smile' | first = Matt | last = Naham | date = August 18, 2023 | accessdate = March 25, 2024 | work = [[Law and Crime]] }}</ref> and the Supreme Court denied to hear Sandmann's case in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://lawandcrime.com/supreme-court/scotus-refuses-to-take-up-nick-sandmanns-libel-case-against-nyt-abc-and-cbs-over-native-american-activists-sensory-impressions-of-march-for-life-encounter/ | title = SCOTUS refuses to take up Nick Sandmann's libel case against NYT, ABC, and CBS over Native American activist's 'sensory impressions' of March for Life encounter | first = Matt | last = Naham | date = March 25, 2024 | accessdate = March 25, 2024 | work = [[Law and Crime]] }}</ref> |
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==== Public figures ==== |
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On August 2, 2019, a suit was filed against a dozen public figures seeking $1.4–4.8 million, on behalf of eight unnamed students who claim defamation. Of those figures, the suits against Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] and Representative [[Deb Haaland]] were dismissed based on the principle of [[legislative immunity]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wulfsohn |first=Joseph |date=May 1, 2019 |title=Covington Catholic High student Nick Sandmann sues NBC for $275M |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/covington-catholic-high-student-nick-sandmann-sues-nbc-for-275m |access-date=May 2, 2019 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="CNNsuitUSATODAY">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Dalvin |date=March 9, 2019 |title=Covington Catholic student's lawyer plans lawsuit against CNN after suing Washington Post |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/09/covington-catholic-lawsuit-planned-against-cnn-lawyer-says/3114618002/ |access-date=March 10, 2019 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>Liam Quinn (March 14, 2019), [https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-hbo-nbc-could-be-next-outlets-sued-over-coverage-of-covington-catholic-student-co-counsel "AP, HBO, NBC could be next outlets sued over coverage of Covington Catholic student: co-counsel"], Fox News</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Londberg |first=Max |title=Libel suit filed against Kathy Griffin, Elizabeth Warren and others who tweeted about Covington Catholic incident |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/08/02/covington-catholic-students-file-libel-suit-vs-journalists-celebrities/1899474001/ |access-date=October 7, 2019 |website=Cincinnati.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Morgan |date=November 5, 2019 |title=Covington Catholic students' defamation suit against Warren is dismissed |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/covington-catholic-students-defamation-suit-against-warren-is-dismissed |access-date=November 8, 2019 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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⚫ | On January 20, 2019, Nathan Phillips, along with "several dozen" others, attempted to enter the [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception]] during [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in an effort to disrupt it, but were prohibited from entering "due to the disruption it would have caused during the solemn Mass" and because "they did not intend to share in the celebration of Mass."<ref name="FOX News">{{cite web |last1=Casiano |first1=Louis |title=National Shrine confirms report that Native American activist allegedly tried to disrupt Mass |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/national-shrine-says-nathan-phillips-allegedly-tried-to-disrupt-mass |website=FOX News |publisher=FOX |access-date=March 30, 2019 |language=en |date=January 24, 2019}}</ref> |
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After being told to leave the property by police, the protesters gathered across the street.<ref name="FOX News |
After being told to leave the property by police, the protesters gathered across the street.<ref name="FOX News"/> |
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===February 2019 private detective agency investigation=== |
===February 2019 private detective agency investigation=== |
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In February 2019, the Covington Diocese released the investigation report of a private detective agency hired by the diocese and the high school, stating that the report exonerated the students.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mervosh|first=Paul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/us/covington-catholic-investigation.html|title=Covington Students 'Did Not Instigate' Lincoln Memorial Encounter, Bishop Says|website=The New York Times|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/kenton-county/diocese-of-covington-releases-report-on-covcath-viral-video-incident|title=Diocese report finds Covington Catholic students did nothing wrong in viral Washington incident|website=WCPO Cincinnati|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> |
In February 2019, the Covington Diocese released the investigation report of a private detective agency hired by the diocese and the high school, stating that the report exonerated the students.<ref name=":4">{{cite news|last=Mervosh|first=Paul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/us/covington-catholic-investigation.html|title=Covington Students 'Did Not Instigate' Lincoln Memorial Encounter, Bishop Says|website=The New York Times|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5736459-CCHFinalInvestigativeReport.html#document/p1|title= Covington Catholic High Final Investigative Report from Greater Cincinnati Investigation, Inc|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/kenton-county/diocese-of-covington-releases-report-on-covcath-viral-video-incident|title=Diocese report finds Covington Catholic students did nothing wrong in viral Washington incident|website=WCPO Cincinnati|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> |
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=== |
=== 2020 RNC speech === |
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Sandmann gave a short speech at the [[2020 Republican National Convention]] during which he recounted the incident from his perspective and stated his belief that mainstream media outlets [[media bias in the United States|are biased]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pearce |first1=Matt |title=At the RNC, former Covington Catholic High student Nicholas Sandmann attacks the news media |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-08-25/rnc-nicholas-sandmann |access-date=29 August 2020 |work=[[Los Angeles Times|LA Times]] |date=25 August 2020}}</ref> Sandmann was subsequently hired by [[Mitch McConnell]]'s [[2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky|re-election campaign]].<ref>{{cite news |title=McConnell Campaign Hires Student From Viral DC Encounter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/08/28/us/ap-us-election-2020-mcconnell-sandmann.html |access-date=29 August 2020 |work=[[New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]}}</ref> |
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Sandmann's family hired two law firms with lead attorney [[L. Lin Wood]], a prominent [[libel]] attorney who had previously worked on high-profile libel cases for clients including [[Death of JonBenét Ramsey|JonBenét Ramsey]]'s brother, [[Herman Cain]], and the family of [[Richard Jewell]] (falsely accused of being the 1996 [[Eric Rudolph|Olympic Park Bomber]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steinbuch |first1=Yaron |title='MAGA' teen's family hires high-profile libel attorney |url=https://nypost.com/2019/01/25/maga-teens-family-hires-high-profile-libel-attorney/ |accessdate=25 January 2019 |date=2019-01-25 |quote=The family of a Catholic school student at the center of a confrontation with a Native American elder in Washington, DC, has hired a high-profile attorney, according to a report. L. Lin Wood, who is known for aggressively pursuing libel and slander lawsuits against media outlets,}}</ref><ref name="farhi190219">{{cite web|last=Farhi|first=Paul|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-washington-post-sued-by-family-of-covington-catholic-teenager/2019/02/19/aa252be4-349c-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html|title=The Washington Post sued by family of Covington Catholic teenager|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> In February 2019, Wood filed a {{USD|250 million}} [[defamation]] lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="farhi190219"/><ref name="nw-20190219">Scott McDonald. "[https://www.newsweek.com/nicholas-sandmanns-attorneys-sue-washington-post-250-million-1336480 Covington Teen In Red MAGA Cap Sues The Washington Post For $250 Million]", newsweek.com, 19 February 2019. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220020054/https://www.newsweek.com/nicholas-sandmanns-attorneys-sue-washington-post-250-million-1336480 |date=20 Febaruary 2019}}</ref><ref name="nydn-20190219">Theresa Braine. "[https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-nick-sandmann-washington-post-lawsuit-20190219-story.html Lawyers for Nick Sandmann, high school junior who faced off with Native elder on Lincoln Memorial steps, sue Washington Post for $250 million]", ''New York Daily News'', 19 February 2019. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220015720/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-nick-sandmann-washington-post-lawsuit-20190219-story.html |date=20 Febaruary 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/19/covington-catholic-students-lawyer-suit-filed-against-washington-post/2921874002/ | title = Covington Catholic student's legal team files $250M suit against The Washington Post | first = Max | last = Longburg | date = February 19, 2019 | accessdate = February 19, 2019 | work = [[USA Today]] }}</ref> The suit accuses the ''Post'' of publishing seven "false and defamatory articles".<ref name="ka-electronics1">Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry (February 19, 2019), [http://www.ka-electronics.com/images/pdf/Sandmann_v_Washington_Post_Complaint.pdf SANDMANN v. WASHINGTON POST complaint], UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY NORTHERN DIVISION AT COVINGTON</ref><ref>Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Antonio Olivo and Joe Heim (January 22, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/20/it-was-getting-ugly-native-american-drummer-speaks-maga-hat-wearing-teens-who-surrounded-him/ "'It was getting ugly': Native American drummer speaks on his encounter with MAGA-hat-wearing teens" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Jake Tapper (January 20, 2019), [http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-A.pdf "Statement of Nick Sandmann. Covington Catholic High School Junior, Regarding Incident at the Lincoln Memorial"], Twitter via Hemmerlaw.com</ref><ref>Antonio Olivo, Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Joe Heim (January 20, 2019), [http://www.hemmerlaw.com/files/2019/02/Exhibit-F.pdf "Marcher's accost by boys in MAGA caps draws ire"], ''The Washington Post'' via Hemmerlaw.com</ref><ref>Michelle Boorstein (January 20, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/01/20/opposed-dignity-human-person-kentucky-catholic-diocese-condemns-teens-who-taunted-vet-march-life/ "'Opposed to the dignity of the human person': Kentucky Catholic diocese condemns teens who taunted vet at March for Life" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Philip Bump (January 20, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/20/most-young-white-men-are-much-more-open-diversity-than-older-generations/ "Most young white men are much more open to diversity than older generations" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Michael E. Miller (January 22, 2019), [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/picture-of-the-conflict-on-the-mall-comes-into-clearer-focus/2019/01/20/c078f092-1ceb-11e9-9145-3f74070bbdb9_story.html "Viral standoff between a tribal elder and a high schooler is more complicated than it first seemed" (includes corrections)], ''The Washington Post''</ref> The complaint states: <blockquote> ... [T]he ''Post'' engaged in a modern-day form of McCarthyism by competing with CNN and NBC, among others, to claim leadership of a mainstream and social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified, and threatened Nicholas Sandmann ("Nicholas"), an innocent secondary school child. The Post wrongfully targeted and bullied Nicholas because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red "Make America Great Again" souvenir cap on a school field trip.... [T]he ''Post'' knew and intended that its false and defamatory accusations would be republished by others, including media outlets and others on social media."<ref name="ka-electronics1"/> </blockquote> A spokeswoman for ''The Washington Post'' announced that the paper would defend itself against the lawsuit.<ref name="farhi190219"/> A second suit against [[CNN]] was filed by Wood on behalf of Sandmann on March 12, 2019, seeking {{USD|275 million}} in damages.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nativeamerican/cnn-hit-with-275-million-defamation-suit-by-kentucky-student-idUSKBN1QU0BY | title= CNN hit with $275 million defamation suit by Kentucky student | first = Keith | last =Coffman | date = March 12, 2019 | accessdate = March 13, 2019 | publisher = Reuters }}</ref> According to Wood, the suit was filed for "vicious" and "direct attacks" towards his client, saying "CNN was probably more vicious in its direct attacks on Nicholas than ''The Washington Post''." A third lawsuit was filed May 1, 2019, seeking US$275 million defamation lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against NBCUniversal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/covington-catholic-high-student-nick-sandmann-sues-nbc-for-275m|title=Covington Catholic High student Nick Sandmann sues NBC for $275M|last=Wulfsohn|first=Joseph|date=2019-05-01|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref><ref name="CNNsuitUSATODAY">{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Dalvin|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/09/covington-catholic-lawsuit-planned-against-cnn-lawyer-says/3114618002/|title=Covington Catholic student's lawyer plans lawsuit against CNN after suing Washington Post|date=March 9, 2019|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name="CNNsuitFOXNEWS">{{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Liam|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/cnn-to-be-sued-for-more-than-250m-over-vicious-and-direct-attacks-on-covington-high-student-lawyer|title=CNN to be sued for more than $250M over 'vicious' and 'direct attacks' on Covington High student: lawyer |date=March 9, 2019|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry (March 12, 2019), [https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11247440/sandmann-v-cnn-03122019.pdf SANDMANN v. CABLE NEWS NETWORK], UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY NORTHERN DIVISION AT COVINGTON</ref><ref>Liam Quinn (March 14, 2019), [https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-hbo-nbc-could-be-next-outlets-sued-over-coverage-of-covington-catholic-student-co-counsel "AP, HBO, NBC could be next outlets sued over coverage of Covington Catholic student: co-counsel"], Fox News</ref> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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{{reflist|group="Notes"}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:2019 01 Lincoln Memorial confrontation}} |
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[[Category:January 2019 events in the United States]] |
[[Category:January 2019 events in the United States]] |
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[[Category:2019 in Washington, D.C.]] |
[[Category:2019 in Washington, D.C.]] |
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[[Category:2019 controversies in the United States]] |
[[Category:2019 controversies in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Media bias controversies]] |
[[Category:Media bias controversies]] |
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[[Category:Race-related controversies in the United States]] |
[[Category:Race-related controversies in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Black Hebrew Israelites]] |
[[Category:Black Hebrew Israelites]] |
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[[Category:Viral videos]] |
[[Category:Viral videos]] |
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[[Category:Covington Students]] |
Latest revision as of 02:42, 17 November 2024
Date | January 18, 2019 |
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Location | Lincoln Memorial stairs |
Coordinates | 38°53′21.4″N 77°3′0.5″W / 38.889278°N 77.050139°W |
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On January 18, 2019, a confrontation between groups of political demonstrators took place near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The interaction between Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann and Native American Nathan Phillips[1] was captured in photos and videos disseminated by major media outlets. Other recordings of the incident showed that initial media reports had omitted details.[2][3][4] Reports of the incident triggered outrage in the United States, including calls to dox the students,[5] after stories falsely reported the Catholic students acted as the aggressors.[6] The students received death threats and Covington Catholic High School temporarily closed due to fears for its students' safety.[7]
The short videos of the encounter that were uploaded to social media platforms received millions of views[8] and were widely shared. At first, the anger focused on the students and the school, which, along with some of the students, received threats of violence.[9] As more videos were released, diverging views about what had happened polarized Americans. The incident was described by The New York Times as an "explosive convergence of race, religion and ideological beliefs"[10] and a Vox editorial called it the "nation's biggest story".[2]
In February 2019, the Covington Diocese released an investigation report of a private detective agency hired by the diocese and the high school, stating that the report exonerated the students.[11][12][13] The American news media has been criticized for covering the incident without fully investigating what occurred and fueling controversy and outrage. Covington students have filed a number of multi-million dollar defamation lawsuits against news agencies. Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington student featured in most media coverage of the incident, settled lawsuits with CNN, The Washington Post, and NBCUniversal.[14][15][16] He later lost his suits against The New York Times, CBS, ABC, Rolling Stone, and Gannett.[17]
Incident
[edit]In the afternoon of January 18, 2019, on the Plaza of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. two separate marches were held: the Indigenous Peoples March, which had the purpose of raising awareness of indigenous people's issues,[18] and the March for Life,[9] which had the purpose of raising awareness of anti-abortion issues. For about ten minutes,[9] there was an overlap on the Plaza of a small group from the Indigenous Peoples March and a larger group of students aged 15 and 16 from the all-male Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, who were gathering at their appointed meeting place at the steps of the Plaza to wait for their buses to return home. Before the students arrived, a group of five Black Hebrew Israelites stood in a row "shouting scripture from red books" and taunting passersby.[9][18][19][a][21] As the students began to arrive, the Black Hebrew Israelites began to taunt them.[10][22][23][24] As more Covington students arrived, and in response to these taunts, the students performed school spirit sports chants, including their version of a Māori haka.[22][25][b] One of the Native Americans who was there for the march said that he felt "the students were mocking the dance".[25]
According to a January 23 New York Times article,[9] Indigenous Peoples March participants said they had interpreted the "loud chanting" and the size of the group, as well as their MAGA apparel, as "aggressive and disruptive to their demonstration"[9] which had just concluded. Nathan Phillips, a member of the Omaha tribe who had participated in the March, listened to the chants for what he said was about ten minutes. He said he thought that there was a confrontation between the students and the street preachers that he believed had reached a "boiling point". In his early press interviews, Phillips accused the Covington students of hate and racism.[26] He later said that he had intended to defuse what he perceived as escalating tension between the students and the preachers.[27][28] According to the Detroit Free Press, Phillips said, "They were in the process of attacking these four black individuals.... These young men were beastly and these old black individuals was (sic) their prey, and I stood in between them and so they needed their pounds of flesh and they were looking at me for that."[29] According to CNN's Sara Sidner, two minutes after one of the students took off his shirt to lead the haka, the "drum beat of Phillips and another Native American drummer [was audible] in the video". They sang the AIM Song, a Native American intertribal song.[22][27][30]
Phillips and a second Native American, both with ceremonial drums, walked towards the students grouped along the stairs. Sidner said that while some of the students danced to Phillips' drum beat and chanted along with him for a while, they were not "enjoying each other's company".[22] Soon, Phillips was "encircled" by about 30 students, "many of them white and wearing apparel bearing the slogan of President Trump", red baseball hats with the phrase "Make America Great Again" (MAGA).[10][31] Phillips continued to beat his ceremonial drum and sing for nearly two minutes as a boy wearing the red MAGA hat chose not to retreat with what some interpreted as a smirk on his face.[10][24][32][33] The student later explained that he smiled because he wanted Phillips to know "that I was not going to become angry, intimidated or be provoked into a larger confrontation."[24]
Black Hebrew Israelites
[edit]Earlier footage[clarification needed] that was released did not include the presence of a group of five Black Hebrew Israelites on the Plaza near the Reflecting Pond, part of a One West Camp offshoot believing in the "12 tribes" doctrine. They stood in a row "shouting scripture from red books" and taunting passers-by.[9][18][19][21] According to CNN's Sara Sidner they were "taunting ... people of all colors, other black visitors, natives, and a Catholic priest" shortly after the end of the Indigenous Peoples March, and before the students arrived on the scene.[34][35][36] As the students began to arrive to wait for their bus, the Black Hebrew Israelites began to shout insults directly at them.[10][22][23]
According to witnesses and video subsequently appearing on social media, the Black Hebrew Israelite men shouted racist slurs at the high school students as well as Native Americans.[10][24][32] They called the students "a bunch of incest babies", future "school shooters", and "dirty ass little crackers", and said "you give faggots rights".[24][37][38][39] Many students reacted by saying things such as "whoa" and "easy".[39] The Hebrew Israelites also called a passing black man who tried to disagree with them a "coon", told indigenous activists that the word Indian means "savage", and said to a woman who had stopped to argue with them: "Where's your husband? Bring your husband. Let me speak to him."[40][41]
Response
[edit]News media started covering the story on the evening of January 18, 2019, in response to the viral spread of initial videos posted to social media. Within days of their first coverage of the incident, many news media outlets had revisited their reports and revised the narrative, as more information became available. This included longer videos which contextualized the incident, in-depth analyses and statements from spokesmen for the participants directly involved.[42] The media were sharply criticized for basing their initial reporting on social media, particularly the user-generated short videos, that did not include the minutes before and after the incident.[42] These new sources, which included interviews with participants, revealed the chronology of events, showing how the students had become agitated by the taunts of the Hebrew Israelites before Phillips came on the scene.[22]
Participants at the Indigenous Peoples March posted the first videos of the incident in the evening of Friday, January 18, 2019, following the events. These first videos were roughly only a minute long, when Phillips was drumming, closely encircled by a large group of interested students. They did not include the minutes before and after that contextualized the incident. As described by Vox, the short videos gave the impression "that the boys were harassing the Native American elder".[42] One of these was a one-minute clip posted by Guam resident Kaya Taitano, a student at the University of the District of Columbia, who was with the small group of other participants at the Memorial late afternoon when the incident took place. She filmed the moment that CNN later described as "a smiling young man in a red Make America Great Again hat standing directly in front of the man, who was playing a drum and chanting. Other kids could be seen laughing, jumping around and seemingly making fun of the chants."[43] Taitano uploaded it to Instagram at 7:33 pm,[44][45] and her video was later reposted that day to Twitter via user "2020fight" under the title "This MAGA loser gleefully bothering a Native American protester at the Indigenous Peoples March"; it received over 2.5 million views by January 21.[44][46] The second video, posted to YouTube by KC Noland, reached two million viewers in two hours Saturday morning, January 19, and over four and a half million by January 24.[47][48][49][50]
The first social media video clips were short and focused on this moment, leading to initial harsh criticism of the high school students, who some described as mocking and harassing the elder. Some people affiliated with the March described the boys as appearing threatening due to their numbers, actions, and the "Make America Great Again" caps and clothing that some wore.[10] By January 20, longer videos had been uploaded. Phillips clarified that it was he who had approached the crowd of students, in what he said was an attempt to defuse what Phillips perceived to be a brewing conflict between the students and a third group of five men who were identified as Black Hebrew Israelites who had been taunting the white students with homophobic slurs.[29]
Strong reactions to the event prompted an immediate backlash against the school, the students, and their chaperones. The Washington Post described the incident as a "tense encounter" that "prompted outrage".[8] One of the featured speakers at the Indigenous Peoples March, Ruth Buffalo, a North Dakota Representative and member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation,[51][52][53] said the students' disrespect of what was meant to have been a "celebration of all cultures" saddened her. She added, "The behaviour shown in that video is just a snapshot of what Indigenous people have faced and are continuing to face."[54] Buffalo suggested "some kind of meeting with the students to provide education on issues facing Native Americans."[54] House Representative Deb Haaland wrote, "The students' display of blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance is a signal of how common decency has decayed under this administration. Heartbreaking."[47] Actress Alyssa Milano wrote: “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”.[55]
Over the next several days statements from a spokesperson for the March, an attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project, from Nicholas Sandmann, and other officials, offered different perspectives on the incident. In the wake of the widespread sharing of more detailed video clips, media analyses of the videos, and statements, public opinion became polarized, with some saying the students were completely absolved of all wrongdoing and others saying the students were disrespectful of a Native American elder on a day that should have been a celebration of the first Indigenous Peoples March.[56][10]
Further coverage
[edit]Shortly after the event took place, the Covington Catholic communications director released a statement expressing regret that the event had happened.[48] In a joint statement on January 19, the Diocese of Covington and the Covington Catholic High School extended apologies to Phillips, condemned the students' behavior, and said that after they reviewed the situation they would "take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion."[57]
However, in a following letter dated January 25, 2019, the bishop of the Covington Diocese apologized to Sandmann, saying they "should not have allowed ourselves to be bullied and pressured into making a statement prematurely".[58]
According to The New York Times, death threats had been reported by some of the Covington students' families and the school was closed for a day due to threats of violence."[9]
On January 20, The New York Times described the encounter as an "explosive convergence of race, religion and ideological beliefs—against a national backdrop of political tension... [It] became the latest touch point for racial and political tensions in America, with diverging views about what really had happened."[10] A Vox editorial called it the "nation's biggest story" and "American politics in microcosm" based on the competing interpretations, "identity-focused politics," and intractable back and forth between left-leaning and right-leaning media organizations "despite the inherent uncertainty in the footage itself."[2]
As the backlash intensified, the parents of Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, the one CNN described as "smiling young man in a red Make America Great Again hat," retained the services of Louisville-based RunSwitch Public Relations, a company that specializes in crisis management.[59] They released a January 21 statement on behalf of Sandmann, in which he said misinformation and "outright lies" were being spread about the incident.[60] According to him, the situation began when a group of African-American protesters directed insults at the students, and the students responded with school spirit chants. Sandmann said that he was confused when Phillips and other Native Americans subsequently approached him and the other students, and that he tried to remain calm to avoid trouble. He said he "did not witness or hear any students chant 'build that wall' or anything hateful or racist at any time."[27][61][62]
Taitano said she also heard the students chant "build that wall" and "Trump 2020", but such chants were not audible in videos reviewed by CNN.[32][27][61][63] The January 21 PR statement denied that the students chanted "Build the wall".[27][64][60][62][65] Phillips said that he had heard the students chanting "build that wall" which was one of the principal concerns of the Indigenous Peoples March.[51][20] In a brief interview on Twitter, he said "This is Indigenous Land you know, we're not supposed to have walls here. We never did for millenniums (sic) before anybody else came here we never had walls. We never had a prison. We always took care of our elders and took care of our children. We always provided for them, we taught them right from wrong. I wish I could see that energy in that young mass of young men down there. To put that energy into making this country really great—helping those that are hungry..."[63] Some others affiliated with the March described the group of boys surrounding Phillips as appearing threatening due to their numbers, actions, and "Make America Great Again" attire.[10]
Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State of Kentucky, described the scene as "horrific" and said the students' actions did not reflect Kentucky's values. She wrote, "I refuse to shame these children. Instead I turn to the adults that are teaching them and those that are silently letting others promote this behavior. This is not the Kentucky I know and love. We can do better and it starts with better leadership."[66]
The Washington Post described the Indigenous Peoples March as "meaningful", and an example of how Native Americans will not be silenced.[67] The article drew attention to Donald Trump's joking about the Wounded Knee Massacre to mock the senior United States senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren.[68][69]
Vulture writer Erik Abriss, who tweeted that he wanted the Covington students and their parents to die, was fired from his second job at INE Entertainment.[70] Film producer Jack Morrissey, who had suggested the "MAGAkids go screaming, hats first, into the woodchipper," later apologized for his "fast, profoundly stupid tweet".[71]
Author and professor at UC Riverside Reza Aslan tweeted about Sandmann: "Have you ever seen a more punchable face than this kid’s?"[72] The tweet was deleted roughly one year later.[73]
Following full video release
[edit]A longer hour-and-a-half-long video was made public on Sunday, January 20.[74] The longer video revealed more information about the incident, including the five Hebrew Israelites and their taunting of the students. The New York Times January 22 compilation shows that the whole interaction only lasted ten minutes.[9]
In the wake of the publication of the longer video, CNN Business reporter Donie O'Sullivan described the twitter video uploaded by "2020fight" as the one that "helped frame the news cycle" of the previous days, and characterized the video as a "deliberate attempt" to mislead and "manipulate the public conversation on Twitter"—a violation of Twitter rules.[75] According to Molly McKew, an information warfare researcher, the tweet had been boosted by a network of anonymous Twitter accounts to amplify the story.[75][44][46]
The newly revealed information of the whole incident shown through the longer videos created confusion in the ongoing reporting: while some still believed the students were partially responsible for poor attitudes, others felt that the students had been maligned by the initial coverage and that several other actors in the event were to blame for the net result.[42]
The organizers of the March for Life initially released a statement criticizing the students' "reprehensible" behavior. But the organizers rescinded the statement on January 20, saying "It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured."[61][76]
Chase Iron Eyes, a spokesperson for the Indigenous Peoples March and an attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project who witnessed the incident, said that "Conservative people are fearful now—with the election to [C]ongress of our first two Native American women, Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids, and so many other powerful women... But yesterday the world saw, whether it was live media or social media, the fight ahead of us can be won—if we are united."[45][31] Another march organizer, Nathalie Farfan, said, "The good news is, that connection to the sacred may have resonated with some of the Catholic youths. What is not being shown on [the KC Noland February 18 video ] is that the same youth and a few others became emotional because of the power, resilience and love we inherently carry in our DNA. Our day on those steps ended with a round dance, while we chanted, 'We are still here.'"[31]
On January 21, The New York Times report from Covington said that the local community had focused its energy on "absolving the students of any wrongdoing" in the incident, having begun "to see itself as facing a politically motivated siege".[77]
U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, whose district includes Covington Catholic High School, wrote that after watching videos from four different cameras he believed the media had misrepresented the incident, and that "In the context of everything that was going on (which the media hasn't shown) the parents and mentors of these boys should be proud, not ashamed, of their kids' behavior."[78]
The House Intelligence Committee on January 22 asked Twitter to provide information on the reason why the first video went viral.[79]
On January 22, shortly after tweeting it, comedian Kathy Griffin deleted a Twitter message in which she accused Covington basketball players making an OK gesture of "throwing up the new nazi sign".[80] The same day Jim Carrey tweeted an art work labeling the Covington students as "baby snakes".[81]
In a January 22 tweet, President Trump said the Covington students "have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be."[82]
After several conflicting media interviews were given by Nathan Phillips, NBC's Savannah Guthrie interviewed Covington High School junior Nicholas Sandmann, airing on the Today Show on the morning of January 23. While Sandmann did not feel a need to apologize for his actions, he expressed respect for Phillips and a desire to talk to him. In hindsight, he wished that he had simply walked away.[83][84] In his interview with NBC, Phillips said that while "Sandmann owes many people an apology", as he continues to believe the "students were 'mocking' Native Americans, and Sandmann 'was the leader of that'", he forgives those involved.[85] Phillips also acknowledged that both of them had received death threats since the incident.[85][86] Guthrie was criticized, alternately, for giving Sandmann a national platform and for asking Sandmann if he should apologize to Phillips.[87]
On January 23, CNN's Kirsten Powers deleted her Twitter app after she was criticized and, in her own words, "harassed" on Twitter after stating a day prior that "watching all the videos (which I did) does not change the fundamental problem: the boys disrespecting an Indigenous elder."[88] The same day, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave a statement saying, "the idea that anybody could take joy in the destruction of young kids is absolutely outrageous to me"; her remarks were criticized, with critics pointing to the Trump administration's family separation policy.[89]
Analysis of media coverage
[edit]The news media has been criticized for how it covered the incident, specifically for their initial reporting of the story based on various social media posts without fully investigating what occurred and subsequently fueling controversy and outrage over the incident.[42][90][91][92][93]
The media began to cover the story after it received a massive amount of attention on social media. At first, most media coverage neglected to provide key details to the story. Two days later, after a longer video was released, media outlets began to withdraw from their initial analysis and made edits clarifying the changes.[94] For example, CNN titled an article "Teens in Make America Great Again hats taunted a Native American elder at the Lincoln Memorial", but upon revision, the new headline read "Teen in confrontation with Native American elder says he was trying to defuse the situation". The New York Times's original coverage was titled "Boys in 'Make America Great Again' Hats Mob Native Elder at Indigenous Peoples March" before following up the next day with "Fuller Picture Emerges of Viral Video of Native American Man and Catholic Students".[95] Some organizations did not change their original writings, but added a notice directing users to newer articles with a more complete account.[95]
Legal
[edit]Defamation lawsuits
[edit]The Washington Post
[edit]Sandmann's family retained lawyers who, in February 2019, filed a US$250 million defamation lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against The Washington Post.[96][97] The suit accuses the Post of publishing seven "false and defamatory articles".[98][99][100][101][102][103][104] The complaint alleged that the Post wanted to lead a "mainstream and social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified, and threatened" Sandmann, that the Post wrongfully targeted and bullied Sandmann "because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' souvenir cap on a school field trip" and that the Post "knew and intended that its allegedly defamatory accusations would be republished by others."[98] A spokeswoman for The Washington Post announced that the paper would defend itself against the lawsuit.[96]
The lawsuit against The Washington Post was initially dismissed on July 26, 2019, because the plaintiff's claims that he was falsely accused of racist conduct "is not supported by the plain language in the article", and that otherwise the published material was opinion, protected by the First Amendment.[105][106] After Sandmann's lawyers amended the complaint, the suit was reopened on October 28, 2019.[107] The judge stood by his earlier decision that 30 of the Post's 33 statements targeted by the complaint were not libelous, but agreed that a further review was required for three statements that "state that (Sandmann) 'blocked' Nathan Phillips and 'would not allow him to retreat'".[108] On July 24, 2020, The Washington Post settled the lawsuit with Sandmann. The terms of the settlement have not been made public.[15]
CNN
[edit]Sandmann's lawyers filed a second lawsuit on his behalf against CNN on March 12, 2019, seeking US$275 million in damages,[109] for allegedly "vicious" and "direct attacks" towards Sandmann. On January 7, 2020, the lawsuit was settled. The terms of the settlement have not been made public.[110][111]
NBCUniversal
[edit]A third lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2019, seeking US$275 million defamation lawsuit on behalf of Sandmann against NBCUniversal. On November 22, 2019, a judge rejected NBC's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit against it.[112] The lawsuit was settled on December 17, 2021, with Sandmann stating that the terms of the settlement were confidential.[16]
Other media lawsuits
[edit]Other lawsuits have been filed against The New York Times, Rolling Stone, ABC, and CBS.[113] On July 26, 2022, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman, a federal judge in Kentucky, granted summary judgment motions in favor of these media companies.[114][115] The court concluded that the reporting of Phillips’s statements that Sandmann “blocked” him and “wouldn’t allow [him] to retreat” were objectively unverifiable and thus unactionable opinions.[116][117] The Sixth Circuit upheld the ruling on appeal in August 2023,[118] and the Supreme Court denied to hear Sandmann's case in March 2024.[119]
Public figures
[edit]On August 2, 2019, a suit was filed against a dozen public figures seeking $1.4–4.8 million, on behalf of eight unnamed students who claim defamation. Of those figures, the suits against Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Deb Haaland were dismissed based on the principle of legislative immunity.[120][121][122][123][124]
Post-incident actions
[edit]National shrine protest
[edit]On January 20, 2019, Nathan Phillips, along with "several dozen" others, attempted to enter the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception during Mass in an effort to disrupt it, but were prohibited from entering "due to the disruption it would have caused during the solemn Mass" and because "they did not intend to share in the celebration of Mass."[125]
After being told to leave the property by police, the protesters gathered across the street.[125]
February 2019 private detective agency investigation
[edit]In February 2019, the Covington Diocese released the investigation report of a private detective agency hired by the diocese and the high school, stating that the report exonerated the students.[11][12][13]
2020 RNC speech
[edit]Sandmann gave a short speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention during which he recounted the incident from his perspective and stated his belief that mainstream media outlets are biased.[126] Sandmann was subsequently hired by Mitch McConnell's re-election campaign.[127]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The March For Life also had a permit for First Amendment demonstrations on the National Mall on that day. According to The Cut, Covington Catholic sends an annual delegation of its students to attend the anti-abortion March For Life in Washington.[20]
- ^ A haka is a type of traditional ceremonial dance or challenge in Māori culture. They have been adopted in popular culture, often in sports.
References
[edit]- ^ Goodman, Alana (January 23, 2019). "Native American activist Nathan Phillips has violent criminal record and escaped from jail as teenager". Washington Examiner. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c Beauchamp, Zach (January 23, 2019). "The real politics behind the Covington Catholic controversy, explained". Vox. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
The Covington Catholic fight is American politics in microcosm.... Why is the Covington Catholic controversy still the nation's biggest story? It started simply enough. A short viral video shot on Friday shows a group of white teens, some wearing "Make America Great Again" hats, a slogan popularized by Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign. standing near a smaller group of Native Americans including an elder from the Omaha tribe named Nathan Phillips. It's been four days since the initial incident, which had nothing like the policy significance of the still-ongoing shutdown fight. Still, it's the most divisive and talked-about issue in American public life right now. Why? The answer is that the Covington videos are kind of Rorschach test, showing each side seeing what it wants to in a way that's more revealing about their own worldviews than the actual incident.
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (January 23, 2019). "A new video shows a different side of the encounter between a Native American elder and teens in MAGA hats". CNN. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
Kaya Taitano, who shot the viral video, said the teens were chanting "Build the wall" and "Trump 2020." CNN.
- ^ Robins-Early, Nick (January 22, 2019). "House Intelligence Committee Looking Into Tweet About Viral MAGA Hat Teen Video". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
The House Intelligence Committee has asked Twitter to provide more information about a viral video of jeering high school students in Make America Great Again hats surrounding a Native American man, a committee aide told HuffPost. The Twitter account @2020fight on Friday posted the minute-long video of Covington Catholic High School students and Omaha tribe elder Nathan Phillips, and was viewed over 2.5 million times in the days since.
- ^ McCarthy, Tyler (January 21, 2019). "Kathy Griffin calls for doxing student's identities after viral video at Native American march: 'Shame them'". Fox News. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Sanchez, Rey (February 13, 2019). "Report finds no evidence of 'offensive or racist statements' by Kentucky students". CNN. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Dias, Elizabeth (January 22, 2019). "After Viral Video, Families of Covington Are Swiftly Circling to Protect Their Boys". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Olivo, Antonio; Wootson Jr, Cleve R.; Heim, Joe (January 19, 2019). "'It was getting ugly': Native American drummer on the MAGA-hat wearing teens who surrounded him". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Videos Show a Collision of 3 Groups That Spawned a Fiery Political Moment". The New York Times. January 23, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mervosh, Sarah; Rueb, Emily S. (January 20, 2019). "Fuller Picture Emerges of Viral Video Between Native American Man and Catholic Students". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Mervosh, Paul (February 13, 2019). "Covington Students 'Did Not Instigate' Lincoln Memorial Encounter, Bishop Says". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ a b "Covington Catholic High Final Investigative Report from Greater Cincinnati Investigation, Inc". February 13, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ a b "Diocese report finds Covington Catholic students did nothing wrong in viral Washington incident". WCPO Cincinnati. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ CNN settles lawsuit with Nick Sandmann stemming from viral video controversy CNN, January 7, 2020
- ^ a b "Nick Sandmann settles $250M lawsuit with the Washington Post". www.msn.com. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ a b Bentley, Quinlan (December 17, 2021). "Covington Catholic graduate Nicholas Sandmann reaches settlement in lawsuit against NBC". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Former Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann Loses Defamation Lawsuits Against CBS, ABC, NYT, and Others". July 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Davis, Alli (January 20, 2019). "Omaha Tribe member Nathan Phillips in spotlight in face of taunting teens". Sandhills Express. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Bengal, Rebecca (January 21, 2019). "The Power of Nathan Phillips's Song". Vogue. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Ryan, Lisa (January 18, 2019). "Mob of MAGA Hat-Wearing Teen Boys Caught on Video Harassing Native Elder". The Cut. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
The Cut quoted an Instagram post, "As we tried to move through the crowd, they closed in tighter around us, and wouldn't allow anyone to pass. It was obvious that they wanted any excuse for the day to turn violent. They repeatedly 'bumped' into us, trying to agitate people into confrontation. But instead, the very few of us left stood quietly, trying to remain calm. I was seething with anger and rage and disappointment. I was so confused about why these boys would go out of their way to harass such a small, vulnerable group."
- ^ a b Lockhart, P.R. (January 22, 2019). "The Black Hebrew Israelites and their connection to the Covington controversy, explained". Vox. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
where one of their members was holding a faith-teaching ceremony to his other followers
- ^ a b c d e f Sidner, Sara (January 21, 2019). "Trump Proposes DACA Deal for His Border Wall Funding; Furloughed Worker Shares Impacts of Historic Shutdown; Rudy Giuliani Admits Trump and Cohen May Have Discussed Testimony; Immigration Laws; Oscars; CNN Heroes; Politics; Italy Elections; Second Amendment Rights; Reality TV; Entertainment". CNN. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Mervosh, Sarah (January 19, 2019). "Boys in 'Make America Great Again' Hats Mob Native Elder at Indigenous Peoples March". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Grinberg, Emanuella (January 22, 2019). "In four days, three viral videos showed us there's always more to the story". CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Karoub, Jeff; Beam, Adam (January 21, 2019). "Teen in confrontation with Native American: I didn't provoke". Associated Press. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ https://www.cnn.com/cnn/2019/01/21/us/nathan-phillips-maga-teens-interview/index.html [dead link ]
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Alex (January 21, 2019). "Young man in D.C. march video denounces 'outright lies' about him". NBC News. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ Tobin, Olivia (January 20, 2019). "Covington Catholic High School: Outrage as teens in MAGA hats 'mock' Native American Vietnam War veteran". London Evening Standard. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Politi, Daniel (January 20, 2019). "Native American Elder Says He Approached MAGA-Clad Teens to Defuse Argument With Black Protesters". Slate Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ Schilling, Vincent (January 19, 2019). "Outrage as non-Native youth wearing #MAGA hats taunt and disrespect Native elder". Indian Country Today. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ a b c Nelson, Daniel Paul (January 20, 2019). "Marchers for Life Harass Indigenous Elder at Indigenous Peoples March" (PDF). Lakota People's Law Project. Press Statements. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
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dramatic professions of personal anguish meant to recenter the locus of harm from Phillips to the tweeter ("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": Alyssa Milano)
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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. 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.
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