CINCINNATI — Online videos showing students from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, appearing to confront and mock members of the Indigenous People's March in Washington, D.C., on Friday have stirred up controversy that has echoed nationwide.
The tale has unfolded rapidly, thanks to the original viral video and the impact of social media.
WCPO has obtained a statement from one of the Covington Catholic students, junior Nick Sandmann, courtesy of CNN. This statement was originally obtained and verified by CNN.
Just in: Statement of Nick Sandmann, Covington Catholic High School junior, about the event at the Lincoln Memorial: pic.twitter.com/PkuMh2cVZM
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 20, 2019
Many videos showing multiple angles and moments throughout the altercation have surfaced over time, showing different perspectives of the same event.
The video that started it all showed one Covington Catholic student standing calmly, with a smile on his face, as a member of the Indigenous People's March played a hand drum. Other videos show the group from the Indigenous People's March approaching the CovCath students unprovoked. Still others show the involvement of another group of African American protesters engaging with the students, and allegedly shouting inflammatory, racially based statements their way.
"When we arrived, we noticed four African American protesters who were also on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial," Sandmann's statement said. "I am not sure what they were protesting, and I did not interact with them. I did hear them direct derogatory insults at our school group." The group Sandmann is referring to can be seen in some videos from the events of the day. Sandmann goes on to say that the protesters hurled "hateful" insults their way, as the students waited for their bus to arrive.
Sandmann's statement says the students began to chant school spirit songs to drown out the insults coming from the other group. "After a few minutes of chanting, the Native American protesters, who I hadn't previously noticed, approached our group," said Sandmann's statement. "The Native American protesters had drums and were accompanied by at least one person with a camera."
The story, from there, becomes more complicated by differing videos and statements from the Native man in the video, Nathan Phillips. Phillips is also an Omaha Nation elder and Vietnam veteran, details of which have fed into the controversy as it has arisen online. Public outcry has circled around the treatment of a Native man who has also served and fought in the United States military.
"I have read that Mr. Phillips is a veteran of the United States Marines," reads Sandmann's statement. "I thank him for his service and am grateful to anyone who puts on the uniform to defend our nation. If anyone has earned the right to speak freely, it is a U.S. Marine veteran."
Rumors have circulated regarding threats made against the students, their families, and Covington Catholic High School itself. WCPO has not been able to officially verify these rumors, or identify any specific threats that have been made, but we are working to find out more information.
"I am being called every name in the book, including a racist, and I will not stand for this mob-like character assassination of my family's name," the statement reads. "My parents were not on the trip, and I strive to represent my family in a respectful way in all public settings."
WCPO is still reviewing and working to identify credible sources associated with this story, in addition to videos shared with us online. If anyone is interested in speaking to WCPO about this matter, please email us at newsdesk@wcpo.com.
Thanks for reading Covington Catholic student from viral video releases statement - WCPO. Please share...!
0 Comment for "Covington Catholic student from viral video releases statement - WCPO"