Trump backs Ky. students as school closed Tuesday
Native American man from video disappointed by teen’s statement
Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON, Ky. — President Donald Trump tweeted in support of the much-criticized Covington Catholic students shown in viral videos facing off with or laughing in the presence of an older, singing Native American protester at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
The Catholic high school and Covington Diocese apologized for the students’ behavior toward Native Americans and said “the behavior is opposed to the church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person.”
The students, many of whom wore Mr. Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan on hats, got his support Monday night. “Looking like Nick Sandmann & Covington Catholic students were treated unfairly with early judgments proving out to be false — smeared by media,” Mr. Trump stated.
In a second tweet, sent Tuesday morning, Mr. Trump said the students “captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good — maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!”
Gov. Matt Bevin sent similar tweets Tuesday morning, saying he was “saddened by the whole thing.”
Covington Catholic was closed Tuesday. The school’s principal, Robert Rowe, said that “after meeting with local authorities,” they decided to close the campus “to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff.” Police cars blocked school entrances Tuesday afternoon.
The Covington Catholic Diocese website also was taken down.
Following threats, extra security was in place Tuesday at Covington Catholic, according to Fox 19. The threats were being investigated, Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Initial shorter and longer videos of the incident Friday showed one student, later identified as Nick Sandmann, as he stood in front of Nathan Phillips, an elder and a veteran of the Vietnam War. As Mr. Phillips sang or chanted while beating a drum, the teenager smiled while other students behind him cheered and laughed. Mr. Phillips was singing a song about the Native American movement that was about strength and courage, he told media.
The videos led to thousands of comments ridiculing the students for their behavior.
After additional videos were released showing the minutes before the encounter — including moments during which people identified as members of the Hebrew Israelites taunting students with disparaging and vulgar language — Mr. Sandmann issued a statement that said Mr. Phillips confronted him and “got in his face.” Mr. Sandmann said his actions weren’t racist.
“I … do not have hateful feelings in my heart and did not witness any of my classmates doing that,” he said.
“I never felt like I was blocking the Native American protester. He did not make any attempt to go around me. It was clear to me that he had singled me out for a confrontation, although I am not sure why,” he said.
Before the separate encounter with Mr. Phillips, the boys and the crowd at the memorial were subjected to a small group of street preachers who made a series of inflammatory statements and accusations, according to the videos. The Native American group was not shown making any of those sorts of statements before encountering the boys.
Mr. Phillips, the Indigenous Peoples March and the Lakota group are trying to set up meetings with the students, members of the community and church officials, the statement said.
In an interview to air Wednesday on NBC’s “Today” show, Mr. Sandmann indicated he’s open to speaking to Mr. Phillips.
“My position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips,” Mr. Sandmann said. “I respect him, I’d like to talk to him .”
Mr. Sand mann previously denied negative characterizations of his behavior and the behavior of his classmates.
“In hindsight, I wish we could have walked away and avoided the whole thing.”
Mr. Phillips earlier turned down an invitation from Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby to “break bread and make amends” with the students.
Mr. Phillips also said Mr. Sandmann needed to put out a different statement.
“I’m disappointed with his statement. He didn’t accept any responsibility. That lack of responsibility, I don’t accept it,” he said, according to the Enquirer.