Chronicle EditorA Kentucky boys’ school shut down its campus over security concerns as fallout continues over a videotaped encounter involving white teenagers, Native American marchers, and a black religious sect that trended on the internet.
Videos that initially generated outrage on social media were tightly focused on students wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, who seemed to laugh derisively as they surrounded an elderly Native American beating a drum.
Longer videos later revealed the drummer – Omaha Nation elder Nathan Phillips – had intervened between the boys and a black religious sect.
That came after the teens seemed to grow rowdier and the black street preacher who had been shouting racist statements against both groups escalated his rhetoric.
Albert Running Wolf, a Native American from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, referred to Phillips during a small protest outside the school on Tuesday as “an honourable man” who was trying to be a peacemaker, but ended up being verbally attacked.
He said Phillips deserves an apology.
“It doesn’t matter what colour they were, what political factions they were. It was disrespect – straightforward.”
Protesters ended the rally on a street corner near the Catholic school by singing a song from the American Indian Movement while two Native Americans beat drums.
Kathleen Seither of Cold Spring, Kentucky, said she attended the rally in support of Native Americans, appalled by the students’ behaviour.
“They have embarrassed their school, their city, their parents, their state, their country.”
Seither said their actions are an example of “white male privilege; a product of everything in today’s world, including the president”.
A smaller group supporting the teens converged closer to the diocese building.
Among them was Cincinnati resident Maureen Green, a former Catholic and mother of three whose sign read: “I stand with the boys. Facts not fiction.”
She said she thought the boys had been mispresented and “railroaded” by some media accounts.
“I think these boys are learning a lot about how the world really works. It’s a life lesson,” she said.
Online Reporter