Shameful: High School Boys Who Attended March for Life Taunt Native American and Vietnam Veteran

The annual March for Life took place yesterday in Washington, D.C., to speak out against abortion and to raise awareness for the pro-life movement. However, several other stories this weekend have, unfortunately, overshadowed the March, beginning yesterday with controversy over right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro’s remarks regarding baby Adolf Hitler. Now videos have spread showing a group of high school boys who attended the March taunting a Native American veteran:

In the video, the boys appear to surround Native American marchers; one boy stands just inches from one Native American man and stares at him, smirking. Some of the boys are wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats, March for Life shirts, and apparel emblazoned with “Covington Catholic,” in apparent reference to Covington Catholic High School, a private, all-male school in Kentucky.

This isn’t the only time Covington Catholic High School has been in the news recently: It was also the school of Jacob Walter, who was charged in December with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy for allegedly pinning a woman down and raping her until she bled.

The school’s Twitter account is currently protected.

According to Indian Country Today, the Native American man in the video is Nathan Phillips, a Vietnam veteran.

Yes, the high school boys were taunting an American veteran.

Phillips was in town for the Indigenous Peoples March, which also took place yesterday on January 18th. Indian Country Today reported that Phillips is “a keeper of a sacred pipe and holds an annual ceremony honoring Native American veterans in the Arlington National Cemetery.”

There has been at least one report that the students were chanting “Build the wall.” If so, that is particularly tone-deaf, and nonsensical, to chant at Native Americans.

Throughout the video, Phillips continues drumming without acknowledging the mob around him or the boy directly in front of him. Sadly, this isn’t the first time he has been singled out due to his heritage; according to Fox 2 News, he was once taunted while on a weekend walk by college students dressed in stereotypical Native American clothing, who yelled at him and threw a beer can at him.

According to the website for Covington Catholic High School, the students’ trip to the March was organized by the school. Where, then, were the adult chaperones and supervision? If they were in close proximity, why did they not step in to discourage the mob?

Tho you of course wish someone would have said “this isn’t right,” I do feel for the boys in the back, who know it’s wrong but can’t find the courage or confidence to do something about it and take on the social and potentially physical costs of doing so.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) January 19, 2019

It’s perhaps fitting that just a few days ago, Gillette released its ad regarding the importance of adults setting an example for impressionable children and adolescents. Who taught these boys to behave this way and to treat other people this way? The behavior demonstrated by the boys in this video is exactly the kind of behavior that Gillette wanted to acknowledge and confront so that children learn the moral integrity to do what they know is right, even — especially — if they have to break from the pack to do so.

It’s sad because the right to life is about recognizing the dignity of all people—and that we are all made in the image of God.

The videos I’ve seen suggest these kids have a lot to learn about decency and respect. The adults (parents, teachers, & leaders) have failed them. https://t.co/ont3a2LDHB

— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) January 19, 2019

For more March for Life coverage, RedState Front-Page Contributor Sarah Lee covered the 2019 March for Life, and RedState Front-Page Contributor Kimberly Ross wrote about the pro-life movement.

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent those of any other individual or entity. Follow Sarah on Twitter: @sarahmquinlan.

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