Students don ‘MAGA’ hats, mock Native Americans

Frankfort, Jan. 20: A diocese in Kentucky apologised on Saturday after videos emerged showing students from a Catholic boys’ high school mocking Native Americans outside the Lincoln Memorial after a Washington rally.

The Indigenous Peoples March in Washington on Friday coincided with the March for Life, that drew thousands of anti-abortion protesters, including a group from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills. Videos circulating online show a youth staring at and standing extremely close to Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old Native American singing and playing a drum. Other students, some wearing Covington clothing and many wearing “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats and sweat shirts, surrounded them, chanting, laughing and jeering.

In a joint statement , the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School apologised to Phillips. Officials said they are investigating and will take “appropriate action, up to and including expulsion.”

“We extend our deepest apologies to Mr Phillips,” the statement read. “This behaviour is opposed to the Church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person.”

According to the Indian Country Today website, Phillips is an Omaha elder and Vietnam veteran.

Marcus Frejo, a member of the Pawnee and Seminole tribes who is also known as Chief Quese Imc, said he was a part of the march and was among a small group of people remaining after the rally when the students began chanting slogans such as “Make America great” and then began doing the haka, a traditional Maori dance.