Grace Thompson
In 2019, students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky were filmed allegedly chanting build that wall in the face of a Native American elder, Nathan Phillips, during the Indigenous People's March in Washington D.C. The students, many wearing Donald Trump's MAGA hats, were in the city for an anti-abortion rally. The incident sparked widespread backlash, with the school and the Diocese of Covington condemning the students' actions and apologizing to Phillips. The school's vice president for student development, Reverend Doug Mullin, described the behavior as insensitive and threatening. While some called for expulsion, others argued that the children were not solely to blame. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding issues of race, immigration, and respect for indigenous communities in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | 18 January 2019 |
| Location | Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. |
| People Involved | Covington Catholic High School students, Nathan Phillips |
| Incident | Students allegedly chanted "build that wall" in the face of Native American elder Nathan Phillips |
| Response | Condemnation from the Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School, investigation launched |
| Political Context | Students were in D.C. for the March for Life, an annual pro-life rally |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic students deny chanting Build that wall
Several students from Covington Catholic High School have denied allegations of taunting Native Americans in Washington, D.C. Videos of the incident show the students chanting "build that wall" to Nathan Phillips, an elder of the Omaha Tribe and a Vietnam veteran. However, the students have refuted these claims, stating that they did not chant "build that wall" or engage in any form of verbal or physical abuse. They further mentioned that they did not seek to incite violence and that they were falsely incriminated as part of a publicity stunt.
The incident occurred on January 18, 2019, after the March for Life in Washington, D.C. The students' behavior was strongly condemned, as it contradicted the Church's teachings on human dignity and respect. The school issued an apology to Mr. Phillips and assured that the matter was under investigation, with potential consequences, including expulsion.
In a similar incident, a viral video from Royal Oak Middle School in Michigan sparked outrage on social media. The video showed a group of students leading a "build the wall" chant during lunch in the cafeteria. This incident occurred the day after Donald Trump was elected president, and the phrase "build the wall" was a signature chant at his rallies across the nation during his campaign, referring to his plan to build a wall separating the United States and Mexico.
The school district at Royal Oak Middle School released a statement expressing their commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. They addressed the incident, working with the students to help them understand the impact of their words and actions on others in their community. The district emphasized their efforts to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment.
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Students were mocking Native Americans
Students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky were accused of mocking Native Americans during the Indigenous People's March in Washington D.C. in 2019. The students, who were in the city for the annual March for Life, an anti-abortion rally, were filmed surrounding Native American elder Nathan Phillips and mocking his singing and drumming. One student in particular stood in front of Phillips, staring and smiling, while his classmates, many wearing Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" merchandise, cheered and chanted "build that wall".
The incident sparked widespread backlash, with hundreds of videos, tweets, and Facebook posts about the event shared across multiple channels. The Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School issued a joint statement condemning the actions of the students "towards Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general". They extended their deepest apologies to Phillips, acknowledging that the behaviour was opposed to the Church's teachings on respect and human dignity. The school's vice president for student development, Reverend Doug Mullin, expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging that chanting highly charged political opinions in a public space failed to honour the community's values of treating all persons with respect.
While the students' behaviour was widely condemned, some, like Kentucky's Democratic secretary of state Alison Lundergan Grimes, argued that the children were not solely to blame. One student involved in the incident claimed that they did not partake in any verbal or physical abuse, chanting, or mockery, and that Phillips had forced his way into their group as a publicity stunt. However, the footage and statements from witnesses suggest otherwise, indicating that the students' actions were indeed disrespectful and insensitive towards Native Americans.
The incident highlights the complex dynamics of race, politics, and cultural differences in America. While the students may have had differing political views, their expression of those opinions crossed a line into territory that was offensive and threatening to others. It serves as a reminder of the importance of mutual respect and understanding, especially when navigating sensitive issues such as racial tensions and political disagreements.
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Students were wearing Trump's MAGA hats
In 2019, students from Covington Catholic High School, an all-male Catholic high school, were filmed wearing Trump's MAGA hats while mocking a Native American elder, Nathan Phillips, outside the Lincoln Memorial after the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The students, who were also wearing Covington clothing, surrounded and laughed at Phillips while he was playing a drum.
One video of the incident shows the students chanting and performing the Haka dance before Phillips and another man, known as Frejo, approached them. Frejo joined Phillips in singing the anthem from the American Indian Movement, beating out the tempo on hand drums. Although he initially feared a mob mentality that could turn ugly, Frejo said he felt a "special something" happen as they sang, and that the students went from "mocking us and laughing at us to singing with us".
The incident sparked outrage online, with many people criticising the students' behaviour as racist and disrespectful. Actress and activist Alyssa Milano tweeted that the footage "brought me to tears", while actor Chris Evans described the students' actions as "appalling" and "shameful". U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a Catholic herself, also used Twitter to criticise the display of "blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance" and placed some of the blame on President Donald Trump for his use of Native American names as racial slurs.
The Reverend Doug Mullin, vice president for student development at Saint John's University, sent a campus email regarding the incident, stating that the students' behaviour was "regrettably insensitive" and failed to honour the dignity of all persons, regardless of their political persuasions. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School issued a joint statement apologising to Phillips and stating that they would take "appropriate action, up to and including expulsion".
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The Diocese of Covington condemned the students' actions
The Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School released a joint statement condemning the actions of the students "towards Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general". The statement read:
> "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 behaviour is opposed to the Church's teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person. The matter is being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion."
The students from the all-male private school were in Washington for an anti-abortion rally when they were filmed surrounding Vietnam War veteran Nathan Phillips and mocking his singing and drumming. One student in particular stood in front of Phillips, staring and smiling while his classmates, many wearing Donald Trump's "MAGA" hats, cheered him on and chanted, "build that wall, build that wall". Phillips and other Native American activists were taking part in the Indigenous Peoples' March.
The incident sparked widespread backlash, with hundreds of videos, tweets, and Facebook posts about the event shared across multiple channels. The Reverend Doug Mullin, vice president for student development at Saint John's University, sent a campus email stating that the behaviour was "regrettably insensitive to those riding the bus who were offended". He added that "chanting highly charged political opinions on a bus fails our community in honouring [the] value" of "treating [people] with respect, most especially those with whom we may disagree or whom we do not understand".
However, some students from Covington Catholic High School denied the allegations, claiming that they did not chant "build the wall" or seek to incite violence. They argued that they had been falsely incriminated by Phillips as a publicity stunt.
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The Reverend Doug Mullin called the incident insensitive
The Reverend Doug Mullin, vice president for student development at Saint John's University, called the incident insensitive in an email to the campus community. He wrote that the behavior of the students was "regrettably insensitive to those riding the bus who were offended by that behavior." He acknowledged that some people who were on the bus or heard about the incident may have felt their safety was threatened. The incident in question involved students chanting "Build That Wall," a highly charged political opinion.
Reverend Mullin emphasized the Benedictine tradition and value of striving to honor the dignity of all persons, regardless of their background or beliefs. He stated that it is important to treat everyone with respect, even those with whom we may disagree or do not understand. By chanting their political views on a bus, the students failed to uphold this value.
Saint John's University has a long history and is affiliated with the Benedictine monastery, Saint John's Abbey. The abbey was established in 1856 by monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania and has since become one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in the Western Hemisphere. The university itself was founded in 1883 as a school at the abbey and has grown significantly over the years.
Reverend Mullin's response to the incident reflects the values and traditions of the Benedictine campus. He emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity of all individuals, even when there are disagreements or differences of opinion. By calling out the students' insensitive behavior, he reinforced the community's commitment to treating everyone with respect and honor.
The incident attracted significant attention and sparked discussions about the role of political expression on campus and the importance of maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for all community members. Reverend Mullin's statement served as a reminder of the values that the university strives to uphold and the impact of one's actions on others.
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Frequently asked questions
Students from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky were filmed chanting "build that wall" in the face of Native American elder Nathan Phillips during the Indigenous People's March in Washington D.C.
The Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School released a statement condemning the actions of the students and apologizing to Mr. Phillips. The school also stated that the matter was under investigation and that appropriate action, including expulsion, would be taken.
Many of the students were wearing clothing bearing President Donald Trump's "MAGA" slogan.
Yes, one student claimed that they did not chant "build the wall" or seek to incite violence. He stated that they had thought Mr. Phillips was performing a cultural display and that they clapped along to the beat.
Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Democratic secretary of state for Kentucky, said that the children were not solely to blame.
