#Roommates, people are outraged about a viral video which shows a group of teens, many in #MAGA hats, harassing a Native American war veteran who was drumming while participating in an #IndigenousPeoplesMarch in Washington D.C.
What makes the story even more heartbreaking is that the boys brought the elderly man to tears because they were yelling “build that wall” at him. Now people are demanding that the students from #CovingtonCatholicHighSchool in #ParkHills, Kentucky, be disciplined for what many are calling “blatantly racist” behavior.
“We are just now learning about this incident and regret it took place. We are looking into it,” Laura Keener, the communications director with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, said in a statement today, according to @USAtoday.
The veteran was identified as #NathanPhillips, an elder of the Omaha tribe. “I heard them saying ‘Build that wall. Build that wall.’ This is indigenous land, we’re not supposed to have walls here, we never did,” Phillips said while wiping away tears. “…I wish I could see that energy of that young mass of young men, put that energy into making this country really, really great and helping those that are hungry.”
School officials have not immediately responded to requests for comment from USA Today. The school’s website indicated that the students who were in Washington D.C. were there to attend the March for Life event that was held the same day as the Indigenous Peoples March.
Newly sworn in Congresswoman Deb Haaland of New Mexico spoke on the incident via Twitter.
“This Veteran put his life on the line for our country. The students’ display of blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance is a signal of how common decency has decayed under this administration. Heartbreaking,” Haaland said.
We’ll keep you updated on this story, #Roommates.
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafresh
