Sarah Mitchell
The Covington Catholic incident refers to a viral 15-20 second video clip that sparked widespread outrage and condemnation of the students involved. The video, which was initially reported on by CNN, showed a Native American man playing a drum in front of a group of teenage boys wearing MAGA hats, who appeared to be mocking him. The incident occurred during the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and the students were accused of displaying racist and disrespectful behavior towards Omaha tribal elder Nathan Phillips. While some media outlets, such as National Review, issued apologies to the Covington Catholic students for their initial coverage of the incident, there is no clear indication that CNN apologized specifically. However, there were calls for apologies from the media, including CNN, for their role in spreading what some considered to be a false narrative that vilified the students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | January 2019 |
| Incident Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Incident Description | A 15-20 second video clip of Covington Catholic High School students mocking Omaha tribal elder Nathan Phillips at the Indigenous Peoples March |
| Media Involvement | CNN, National Review, New York Times, BuzzFeed, etc. |
| Apologies | National Review, Scott Adams |
| No Apology | CNN |
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What You'll Learn
Scott Adams apologises for believing CNN's reporting
Scott Adams has apologized for believing and spreading CNN's reporting on the Covington Catholic Boys incident, calling it "fake news". In his apology, Adams admits that he "totally got taken by it" and that he now believes, based on longer videos of the incident, that CNN's reporting was "absolutely fake news".
Adams' apology comes in the wake of widespread criticism of CNN's coverage of the incident, which many believed unfairly portrayed the Covington Catholic students as racists and bigots. The incident in question involved a group of Covington Catholic High School students and an Omaha tribal elder, Nathan Phillips, at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. in 2019. Initial media reports, including by CNN, portrayed the students as mocking Phillips, with some reports claiming that the students were chanting "Build the Wall".
However, longer videos of the incident from different angles revealed a more nuanced situation. These videos showed that the students were provoked by another group, the Black Hebrew Israelites, who were shouting racist insults at the Catholic schoolboys. The "Build the Wall" chants were also found to be inaudible in the longer videos.
The Covington Catholic incident sparked a media firestorm, with Republicans and Democrats facing off on issues of privilege, religious freedoms, and the #MeToo movement. The school and the Diocese of Covington initially condemned the students' actions and apologized to Phillips. However, they later launched an investigation into the matter, recognizing that their initial response may have been misguided.
The incident also led to a broader discussion about the role of Catholic schools in the United States and the perceived bias of the liberal media against Christians, particularly in the context of the ongoing cultural wars between the Left and Right.
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National Review apologises to Covington Catholic students
The National Review has issued an apology to the students of Covington Catholic High School after its deputy managing editor, Nick Frankovich, wrote that their behaviour towards Omaha tribal elder Nathan Phillips was comparable to "spitting on the cross". The students were in Washington D.C. for the Indigenous People's March.
In a piece titled "The Covington Affair", the magazine's editors wrote:
> In this business, all we can do is own up to mistakes when they happen. We apologize to our readers and especially to the Covington students, who didn’t need us piling on.
They continued:
> Nick was operating off the best version of events he had on Saturday night, and writing as a faithful Catholic and pro-lifer who has the highest expectations of his compatriots, not as a social-justice activist. As soon as better evidence emerged, we deleted the post.
In the original article, Frankovich wrote:
> They mock a serious, frail-looking older man and gloat in their momentary role as Roman soldiers to his Christ. 'Bullying' is a worn-out word and doesn’t convey the full extent of the evil on display here. As for the putatively Catholic students from Covington, they might as well have just spit on the cross and got it over with.
However, longer footage from additional angles later created a more nuanced impression of the situation. The National Review is not the only media outlet to have responded to the incident. CNN reported that the students were provoked by the Black Hebrew Israelites and that chants of "Build the Wall" were not audible. The Diocese of Covington launched an investigation and issued a statement condemning the students' actions.
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The Diocese of Covington condemns the actions of the students
The Diocese of Covington has issued a statement condemning the actions of the Covington Catholic High School students towards Nathan Phillips, an Omaha tribal elder, and Native Americans in general. The statement was released jointly with the school following an incident at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
In the statement, the Diocese of Covington expresses its deepest apologies to Mr. Phillips and acknowledges that the behaviour of the students was opposed to the Church's teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person. The Diocese also acknowledges the impact of the incident on the March for Life, offering sincere apologies to all those who attended the March and support the pro-life movement.
The statement reflects the Diocese's commitment to investigating the matter and taking appropriate action, including the possibility of expulsion for the students involved. It is important to note that the Diocese recognizes the seriousness of the incident and has promised to address it accordingly.
While the Diocese has not provided specific details about the actions it will take, it has stated that the matter is under investigation. It is likely that the Diocese will review the incident, gather relevant information, and determine the appropriate disciplinary or corrective measures to be taken. This may include disciplinary action against the students, additional educational or sensitivity training, or other forms of remedial action to address the issues that arose during the incident.
The incident involving the Covington Catholic students has sparked widespread discussion and debate on topics like privilege, religious freedoms, and the #MeToo movement. It has also brought attention to the treatment of Native Americans and the complexities of race and identity in the country.
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The Covington Catholic incident sparks political debate
The Covington Catholic incident has sparked intense political debate and highlighted deep divisions in American society. The incident, which occurred during the March for Life in Washington, D.C., involved students from Covington Catholic High School and Native American activist Nathan Phillips. A short video clip of the encounter went viral, showing the students, some wearing MAGA hats, appearing to mock Phillips as he played a traditional drum. This sparked outrage, particularly from those on the left, who saw the incident as emblematic of the privilege, racism, and bigotry of Catholic education and Trump supporters.
The initial media coverage and public reaction to the incident were largely condemnatory of the Covington students. The students and their families received death threats, and the school was forced to cancel classes due to safety concerns. Many media outlets and commentators were accused of engaging in a smear campaign against the students, with some calling for doxxing and even violence against them. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, also initially condemned the students' actions and promised an investigation, apologizing to those who attended the March and supported the pro-life movement.
However, longer videos and additional context later emerged, revealing a more nuanced situation. The students claimed they were provoked by another group, the Black Hebrew Israelites, who were directing racist slurs at them. CNN, which had initially reported on the incident, faced particular scrutiny and accusations of spreading fake news. Scott Adams, for example, apologized for believing and spreading CNN's narrative, calling it the "worst kind of fake news". The National Review also apologized to the Covington students, acknowledging that their initial reaction had been overly hasty and failed to capture the full complexity of the incident.
The Covington Catholic incident has become a flashpoint for broader political debates in the United States. It has brought to the surface issues of privilege, identity politics, religious freedoms, and the role of the media in shaping narratives. The incident and its aftermath demonstrate the highly polarized nature of American politics and the challenges of navigating complex social issues in a highly charged and divisive environment.
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The media's portrayal of the incident as fake news
The media's portrayal of the Covington Catholic incident was heavily criticised and deemed "fake news". The incident in question involved a confrontation between Covington Catholic High School students and Omaha Nation elder Nathan Phillips at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in January 2019. The students, many of whom wore "Make America Great Again" hats, made tomahawk-chopping gestures towards Phillips, while one student, Nick Sandmann, stood directly in front of Phillips, smiling.
The incident was captured on video, with a 60-second clip going viral and sparking outrage online. The video showed what appeared to be a disrespectful and racist confrontation between the students and Phillips. However, longer videos shot from different angles provided additional context, revealing that the students may have been provoked by a group called the Black Hebrew Israelites and that the "Build the Wall" chants were not audible.
The media's portrayal of the incident as a clear-cut case of racist and disrespectful behaviour by the students was criticised as one-sided and inaccurate. Some outlets, such as The Enquirer, acknowledged the role of "fake news" in the coverage of the incident, noting that they had to navigate reporting on the situation without contributing to the rush to judgment that occurred on social media. The National Review also apologised for their initial coverage, acknowledging that their characterisation of the students' behaviour was inaccurate.
The incident sparked a broader discussion about media literacy and the importance of accessing multiple sides of a story, hearing different perspectives, and allowing constructive conversations. The students themselves became symbols of "Fake News" and the dangers of disseminating false or misleading information. The media's portrayal of the incident as simplistic and one-sided contributed to a polarised response, with public shaming from the left and a strong defence from the right, further exacerbating divisions.
While the media's portrayal of the incident as open-and-shut "fake news" was criticised, it is important to note that the students' behaviour was still deemed boorish and provocative by some observers, and the matter was investigated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, which issued a statement condemning the actions of the youths and promising appropriate action.
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Frequently asked questions
No, CNN did not apologize. However, Scott Adams apologized for believing and spreading CNN's narrative, calling it "fake news".
A 15-20 second video went viral, showing a Native American man playing a drum in front of laughing teenage boys wearing MAGA hats.
The video sparked outrage, with many people condemning the behavior of the Covington Catholic High School students. The students and their families received death threats.
Yes, the school and the Diocese of Covington released a joint statement condemning the actions of the students and apologizing to Nathan Phillips and those who attended the March for Life.
Yes, the National Review apologized to the students of Covington Catholic High School after one of their editors, Nick Frankovich, wrote that their behavior was comparable to spitting on the cross.
