Michael Brooks
A group of students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, were filmed mocking a Native American Vietnam War veteran, Nathan Phillips, and performing the Haka, a ceremonial Maori dance, at the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, D.C. The incident sparked outrage and prompted the school and the Diocese of Covington to issue a joint apology, condemning the students' behaviour and promising to take appropriate action, including potential expulsion. The students' actions have been widely criticised as racist and disrespectful, with some eyewitnesses claiming that the students shouted racist slogans and insults at the Native American protesters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Washington D.C. |
| Date | 2019 |
| Participants | Covington Catholic High School students |
| Nature of Incident | Students were accused of mocking Native Americans by performing the Haka, a traditional Maori dance, while wearing "Make America Great Again" hats |
| Response | Covington Catholic High School and the Diocese of Covington issued a joint apology and condemned the students' behavior |
| Outcome | The school promised to take appropriate action, including possible expulsion for the students involved |
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What You'll Learn
Covington Catholic students mocked Native Americans in Washington
On January 18, 2019, a group of Covington Catholic High School students were involved in a confrontation with Native American elder Nathan Phillips near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The incident, which took place during the Indigenous Peoples March, was captured in photos and videos that quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation.
In the videos, a student is seen standing extremely close to Phillips, who is singing and playing a drum. The student, wearing a "`Make America Great Again` hat, appears to be mocking Phillips, smiling periodically while his classmates cheer and laugh. The students were also reported to have chanted slogans such as "Make America Great," "Build the Wall," "Go back to the Reservation," and "Gone In 2020." They also performed the "tomahawk chop," a gesture considered insulting to Native Americans.
In response to the incident, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School issued a joint statement apologizing for the students' behavior and condemning it as "opposed to the Church's teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person." The school also promised to take appropriate action, including expulsion. The incident prompted a broader discussion about racial issues at Covington Catholic, with some alleging a history of racism and disrespect at the school.
Prior to the confrontation with Phillips, the Covington Catholic students had been involved in a tense encounter with a group of Black Hebrew Israelites, who were shouting and taunting passersby. In response, the students performed school spirit chants, including their version of the Haka, a ceremonial Maori dance. Some interpreted this as a mocking imitation of the Haka, intended to intimidate the Native Americans. However, there are conflicting accounts of who approached whom, and some claim that Phillips himself approached the students to defuse the situation.
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The students performed the Haka, a ceremonial Maori dance
Students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, performed the Haka, a ceremonial Maori dance, during a confrontation with Native Americans in Washington, D.C. The incident, which took place during the March for Life and the Indigenous Peoples March, sparked outrage and led to widespread criticism of the students' behaviour.
Videos of the incident show the students chanting and performing the Haka before Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old Native American man, and other Native American demonstrators approached them. The students were wearing "Make America Great Again" hats and clothing, and they surrounded the Native Americans while chanting, laughing, and jeering.
Marcus Frejo, a member of the Pawnee and Seminole tribes, was among those present after the rally when the confrontation occurred. He stated that the students began chanting slogans such as "Make America Great" and then performed the Haka, which he felt was a mockery of the traditional Maori dance.
The Haka is a ceremonial dance of the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. It is often performed by the New Zealand national rugby team and has become widely recognised. The students' performance of the Haka during the confrontation with Native Americans was seen as disrespectful and racist.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School issued a joint statement apologising for the behaviour of the students and condemning their actions. The school promised to take appropriate action, including the possibility of expulsion. The statement emphasised that the behaviour was opposed to the Church's teachings on dignity and respect.
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The students were wearing MAGA hats and clothing
The students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, were wearing "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hats and clothing when they confronted members of the Indigenous People's March in Washington, D.C. The incident, which took place on a Friday, sparked widespread condemnation and outrage, with many accusing the students of mocking and taunting the Native American protesters.
In the videos of the incident, the Covington Catholic students can be seen wearing MAGA hats and other clothing associated with the slogan, such as Cincinnati Bengals clothing. Some students also wore Covington Catholic spirit wear. The hats and clothing were part of the overall appearance of the students that contributed to the intimidating atmosphere of the confrontation.
The MAGA hats and clothing have become a symbol of support for former President Donald Trump and his policies, including his stance on immigration and his promise to "build the wall" along the US-Mexico border. During the confrontation, the Covington Catholic students were reported to have shouted slogans such as "build the wall," "go back to the reservation," and "gone in 2020." They also performed the "tomahawk chop," a gesture considered insulting to Native Americans.
The students' display of MAGA hats and clothing, combined with their chants and actions, has been interpreted by many as a sign of disrespect, intolerance, and racial mockery. The incident has brought attention to the culture of Covington Catholic, with some alleging a history of racism and disrespect at the school. The school has issued an apology and promised to investigate the incident, stating that the students' behavior is opposed to the Church's teachings on dignity and respect.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the normalization of such behavior under the current political climate and has prompted calls for better education and dialogue on racial issues.
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The school and church officials apologised for the incident
The incident involving students from Covington Catholic High School and a Native American group sparked outrage and prompted swift apologies from both the school and church officials. In a joint statement, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and Covington Catholic High School expressed deep regret over the behaviour of their students, which included performing the Haka, a traditional Maori dance, and chanting slogans such as "Make America Great". The statement emphasised that such actions go against the Church's teachings on respect and human dignity.
Covington Catholic High School, a private all-male school in Park Hills, Kentucky, joined federal and state leaders in condemning the incident. The school's Facebook page was taken down, and its Twitter feed was set to private shortly after the incident. The school also promised to take appropriate action, including the possibility of expulsion for the students involved.
The Diocese of Covington, in alignment with the school's response, issued an apology and affirmed that the behaviour exhibited by the students was unacceptable and contradictory to their values. They also mentioned that they are investigating the incident and will take necessary corrective measures.
The incident occurred during the March for Life in Washington, D.C., an annual anti-abortion rally that coincided with the Indigenous Peoples March. The confrontation between the students and a Native American elder, Nathan Phillips, and other Native Americans, including Marcus Frejo, a member of the Pawnee and Seminole tribes, garnered widespread attention due to the students' perceived mockery and intimidation.
The apologies from both the school and church officials acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and demonstrated their commitment to upholding values of respect and dignity, regardless of differences. The incident sparked important conversations about racial relations and the importance of cultural sensitivity, with many calling for a deeper examination of the underlying issues exposed by the confrontation.
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The students' behaviour was criticised by many online
Videos circulated online showed the students surrounding Phillips and other Native Americans, chanting, laughing, and jeering. The students were also seen performing the "tomahawk chop", considered insulting to Native Americans, and shouting racist insults such as "Build the wall", "Go back to the reservation", and "Gone in 2020". One student was seen standing extremely close to Phillips, staring and smiling at him, while wearing a Make America Great Again hat.
The students' behaviour was criticised as racist and disrespectful, with some calling for the school to take action. Actress and activist Alyssa Milano tweeted that the footage "brought me to tears", while actor Chris Evans called the students' actions "appalling" and "shameful". The school and the Diocese of Covington issued a joint statement apologising for the students' behaviour and condemning it as opposed to the Church's teachings on dignity and respect. The school also promised to take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion.
The incident sparked a broader conversation about racism at Covington Catholic and in American society more generally. Some commentators pointed to other incidents of racial offences by Covington Catholic students, such as the use of racial slurs and blackface, and argued that the school needed to address systemic racism. The school's Facebook page was taken down, and its Twitter feed was set to private following the incident.
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Frequently asked questions
The Haka is a ceremonial Maori dance that was popularized by the New Zealand national rugby team.
Covington Catholic boys were accused of mocking a Native American Vietnam veteran, Nathan Phillips, by performing the Haka dance and chanting slogans such as "Make America Great". The incident took place during the Indigenous Peoples March in Washington, which coincided with the March for Life.
Covington Catholic High School and the Diocese of Covington issued a joint statement apologizing for the behavior of their students and condemning their actions. The school also promised to take appropriate action, including expulsion.
