Native American elder Nathan Phillips, teen Nick Sandmann give versions of encounter

Summary

On January 18th, 2019, a confrontation between high-school students from Covington Catholic High School and Omaha elder Nathan Phillips at the Lincoln Memorial sparked widespread outrage. The incident, captured in viral videos, also involved Black Hebrew Israelites and was marked by tension between various groups. Phillips described trying to defuse the situation, while student Nick Sandmann provided his version, stating the students were provoked by the Black Hebrew Israelites. Both sides received backlash, with Sandmann and his family facing death threats. The story sheds light on conflicting perspectives during a charged political moment.

Takeaways

• 😀 A confrontation occurred on January 18th, 2019, involving Black Hebrew Israelites, Covington Catholic High School students, and Indigenous Peoples March attendees at the Lincoln Memorial.
• 😀 The viral video captured a tense interaction between high school student Nick Sandmann and Omaha elder Nathan Phillips.
• 😀 Phillips described the Black Hebrew Israelites as a disruptive group, similar to the Westboro Baptist Church, and mentioned escalating tensions during the protest.
• 😀 Phillips claimed that he was trying to defuse the situation by walking through the crowd but was blocked by Nick Sandmann, who stood in front of him.
• 😀 Phillips explained that he took steps toward the Lincoln Memorial, but the students continued to move closer, making it difficult for him to retreat.
• 😀 Sandmann released a statement claiming that the Black Hebrew Israelites insulted them with slurs and taunts, prompting the students to respond with school spirit chants.
• 😀 According to Sandmann, no offensive chants like 'Build that wall' were ever heard, and he felt he was singled out by Phillips.
• 😀 Sandmann maintained that his facial expression was a smile, aimed at defusing the tension rather than provoking Phillips.
• 😀 Both Phillips and Sandmann described feeling surrounded, but their interpretations of the event differed, with Phillips feeling trapped and Sandmann believing he was simply trying to remain calm.
• 😀 Following the incident, both Phillips and Sandmann faced widespread media attention, with Sandmann and his family receiving death threats after the video spread online.

Q & A

What was the initial event that brought these groups together at the Lincoln Memorial?

On Friday, January 18th, three groups gathered at the Lincoln Memorial: a small group of Black Hebrew Israelites, students from Covington Catholic High School for the March for Life, and attendees of the Indigenous Peoples March.

Who were the two primary figures involved in the confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial?

The two primary figures in the confrontation were Nick Sandmann, a student from Covington Catholic High School, and Nathan Phillips, an Omaha elder attending the Indigenous Peoples March.

How did the confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial escalate according to Nathan Phillips?

Nathan Phillips described the escalation as occurring after over an hour of tension, with various groups becoming more confrontational. He mentioned a young man stripping down to his waist and performing power moves before chants began.

What was Nathan Phillips' perspective on the actions he took during the confrontation?

Phillips stated that he was attempting to defuse the situation by moving forward to exit the area. He claimed that the students blocked his path, which led to him stopping and trying to move around them, but they wouldn’t let him pass.

What was Nick Sandmann's response to the claims made by Nathan Phillips?

Nick Sandmann released a public statement denying Phillips' version of events. He claimed that the students were taunted by the Black Hebrew Israelites and that he tried to remain calm by standing still and smiling, hoping to de-escalate the situation.

What specific insults did the Black Hebrew Israelites direct at the Covington Catholic students?

The Black Hebrew Israelites reportedly called the students 'racists,' 'bigots,' 'white crackers,' 'faggots,' and 'incest kids,' and also taunted one of the African-American students in the group.

How did the students respond to the insults from the Black Hebrew Israelites?

In response to the insults, the students reportedly asked their teacher-chaperone for permission to perform school spirit chants to counter the verbal abuse.

What was Nick Sandmann's explanation for his facial expression during the encounter?

Nick Sandmann explained that he smiled to show he was not angry and was trying to remain calm, rather than making any offensive faces, and he did not intend to provoke Phillips.

What impact did the viral video of the incident have on Nick Sandmann and his family?

Nick Sandmann and his family began receiving death threats after the video went viral, and the incident led to significant public scrutiny and controversy.

What was the general response of the media to the incident at the Lincoln Memorial?

The incident sparked outrage and widespread media coverage, with varying accounts of the confrontation. The video of the encounter went viral, prompting both Nathan Phillips and Nick Sandmann to release public statements offering their sides of the story.