Posted on 01/20/2019 9:38:33 PM PST by yesthatjallen
The Catholic high school student at the center of a viral controversy claimed on Sunday that reports about his apparent confrontation with a Native American man have been filled with "misinformation" and "outright lies."
CNN's Jake Tapper posted a letter from the student, identified as Nick Sandmann from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, explaining the incident.
"I am providing this factual account of what happened on Friday afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial to correct misinformation and outright lies being spread about my family and me," Sandmann wrote in the letter.
His explanation comes after a video clip passed around social media showing him standing and smiling in front of a Native American protester as some of his Catholic high school peers in the background jeer. Several of the students in the video are wearing "Make America Great Again" hats.
Reports about the video prompted the Diocese of Covington to condemn the students and apologize for their behavior.
Sandmann in the letter wrote that he was "singled out" and approached by the Native American man, who has been identified as Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder.
"The protestor everyone has seen in the video began playing his drum as he waded into the crowd, which parted for him," Sandmann wrote. "I did not see anyone try to block his path. He locked eyes with me and approached me, coming within inches of my face. He played his drum the entire time he was in my face."
"I never interacted with this protester," he continued. "I did not speak to him. To be honest, I was startled and confused as to why he had approached me. We had already been yelled at by another group of protestors."
Though some reports have claimed that the students were cheering "build the wall" at Phillips and the other Native American protesters, Sandmann said he did not hear comments like that.
Phillips gave a contradictory account to The Washington Post, saying "that guy in the hat stood in my way and we were at an impasse."
"It was getting ugly, and I was thinking: Ive got to find myself an exit out of this situation and finish my song at the Lincoln Memorial, Phillips told the Washington Post. I started going that way, and that guy in the hat stood in my way and we were at an impasse. He just blocked my way and wouldnt allow me to retreat.
Some public figures and lawmakers have weighed in on the viral video, with many claiming the students are racist and disrespectful.
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) condemned the group of students for displaying "blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance."
Multiple outlets have written up comments from Sandmann's mother after she blamed the incident on a group of "black Muslims."
Sandmann in the letter wrote that the confrontation began when a group of African-American protesters started hassling the group of students wearing "MAGA" hats.
"When we arrived, we noticed four African-American protestors who were also on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial," Sandmann wrote. "The protesters said hateful things. They called us 'racists,' 'bigots,' 'white crackers,' 'faggots' and 'incest kids.'" He wrote that the students responded with a school chant of their own.
Then, Sandmann said, the Native American protesters approached the group of Covington High School students.
"I am being called every name in the book, including a racist, and I will not stand for this moblike character assassination of my familys name," Sandmann wrote.
Reason, a libertarian magazine, in an article on Sunday reported that full-length footage of the event shows Phillips placed himself between the students and the African-American protesters, who appeared to be yelling at the students.
had to look that one up- http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp336-us13/2013/07/06/the-great-white-father/
“Sandmann in the letter wrote that he was “singled out” and approached by the Native American man, who has been identified as Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder.”
(an Omaha elder) AKA “Dances with Soros”
Phillips was involved in another incident where he confronted a party of Eastern Michigan University students where everyone was donned in native American clothes and headdresses. It was what they call a theme party. Phillips began yelling at them which provoked a strong reaction from the party. Beer cans were thrown as well as profanities and racist comments. The police were called at that one.
Phillips is a liar and a disgrace to the Marine Corps.
I hope so, but consider this is an all-boys private school, religious, almost all white, upper middle class tone, in the south (Dixie Way), with southern motifs, so-called privelege, toxic masculinity, etc. Easy for left, if they persist, to create image of these boys as oppressors of humanity.
Tom Massie is the best member of the US House and I wish he represented me.
Turns out the Indian man is a far-left activist who deliberately provoked the kids by drumming louding in their face for HOURS. These poor kids.
He’s lucky he didn’t get punched or his stupid drum broken over his head.
I watched this video all the way through. To say that this young man was, in ANY way, disrespectful is an absolute lie. It doesn’t surprise me, however, that the catholic church hurried out there to “apologize”.
Phillips has decided to weaponize his intersectional Native American and VFW stati.
The MSM cannot get away with this one. There is too much evidence to prove they believed and reported a false narrative.
Of course they will get away with it. They have already gotten what they wanted. The Diocese of Covington has condemned the students and apologized for their behavior.
The behavior in question never happened but as far as the public is concerned it did and the idea that white males are dangerous racist has been reinforced.
The Leftist media has this technique honed to a fine point.
They publish quickly a narrative of the story that projects the Leftist view of the oppressive white male majority wearing MAGA hats.
The truth comes out that contradicts that narrative.
The major news outlets publish a retraction for 10 minutes in an obscure corner of their website. The lessor news outlets totally ignore the truth completely.
The lie lives on in stark contrast to the truth on the web frequented by the Leftist mob. The truth never catches hold in the Leftist consciousness and lie persist in their minds.
Once the lie is out there the truth has no chance because the lie reinforces the preconceived views of the Leftist.
I say SUE EVERYONE!!! And I HATE lawsuits, but these boys have been smeared as bad as the Duke Lacrosse team!!
What are “Black Israelis”?? I have never heard that term before.
That was a disgusting description of those boys.....you must have a problem....a SERIOUS problem.
I TOLD you not to eat the yellow grits.
Some Black Israelites are nothing but troublemakers and con-artists. Years ago they were thrown out of Israel for staging fake demonstrations about their “Jewishness” which they are not (for the most part.
“Real” Black Israelite Jews would not insult anyone. This whole thing is a News Scam and the media and school system fell for it hook, line and stinker.
They had a street corner for many years in NYC; I havent seen them lately.
The Sandmann put Phillips’ account to sleep.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.