COVINGTON, Ky – A diocese in Kentucky is looking into videos that show youths, possibly from the diocese’s all-male high school, in what appears to be mocking Native Americans at a rally in Washington.
Laura Keener of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington said Saturday it regrets the incident and is investigating but didn’t comment further.
The Indigenous Peoples March in Washington on Friday coincided with the March for Life, which drew thousands of anti-abortion protesters, including a group from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills.
Videos circulating online show a youth standing extremely close to an elderly Native American as he chanted and played a drum. Other youths, some wearing clothing with Covington logos, surrounded them, laughing and shouting.
So disheartening to see how our young people think it’s okay to mock and disrespect our indigenous elders.
We need to do better. #EndHate
— Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) January 19, 2019
The man singing is said to be Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder who is also a Vietnam Veteran and former director of the Native Youth Alliance. He is also a keeper of a sacred pipe and holds an annual ceremony honoring Native American veterans in the Arlington National Cemetery.
U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico sharply criticized what she called a display of “blatant hate.”
This story has been updated here
